BJP celebrates win as Advani skips festivities
Party leaders credited this victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and his aggressive campaigning in 2 states
Today while Bharatiya Janata Party celebrated the early coming of Diwali after its victory in Haryana and Maharashtra, party veteran L. K. Advani skipped the festivities and attended a religious congregation in Beas Punjab.
Mr Advani, who was dropped from BJP’s powerful parliamentary board in August, was missing from the jubilation at 11 Ashoka Road party headquarters, lined with saffron flags. There was an atmosphere of celebration at the BJP headquarters while workers danced and burst crackers ahead of Diwali on the party’s grand performance. In contrast, the situation at Congress’ Akbar Road headquarters wore a deserted look.
The strong performance of the party in Haryana and Maharashtra ensured that party workers and leaders had a field day bursting crackers, distributing ladoos and dancing to the tune of live bands.
In anticipating the party’s victory, apart from spokespersons and several senior leaders and Union ministers were given charge to handle media and its queries regarding the poll results. Leaders went channel hopping, providing sound bytes, to the news hungry electronic channels. Party leaders termed this victory as that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and his aggressive campaigning in the two states, besides the organisational skills of BJP president Amit Shah.
The party’s attempt at regaining political control in Delhi Assembly also witnessed a fillip as several leaders were seen shouting slogans like Maharashtra Haryana jeet liya ab Dilli ki baari hai.
Wearing saffron colour kurtas a sea of BJP cadres was seen packing the party headquarters eagerly awaiting the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders at the headquarters to take part in the party’s parliamentary board meeting. The meeting is expected to take a decision on chief ministers of the two states late in the evening.
Meanwhile, the situation at 24 Akbar Road was very different after the drubbing the party received in the Assembly elections. A group of workers, demanding a bigger role for Priyanka Vadra in the party, camped in front of the party office. The workers carried banners showing Priyanka’s portrait and raised slogans “Priyanka Gandhi Congress Bachao ” ( Priyanka Gandhi save Congress) and “Priyanka lao, desh bachao ” ( Bring Priyanka and save the country).
“Priyanka Gandhi should work full time for the party. She should help party vicepresident Rahul Gandhi to rebuild the Congress,” said a worker.