Meerut: Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched his party’s general election campaign Thursday with a rally in India’s most populous state, promising development with national security in seeking votes for another term.
“This country has seen governments that only made slogans, but for the first time, they are seeing a decisive government that knows how to demonstrate its resolve,” Modi told the rally in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh state, which has the most members of parliament of all states.
“Our vision is of a new India that will be in tune with its glorious past,” he said to roars of approval from the crowd who waved BJP flags and chanted for another term for Modi.
The general election, the world’s biggest democratic exercise with about 900 million eligible voters, will be held in phases ending May 19. Votes will be counted May 23.
In December, the main Opposition Congress party defeated the BJP in three major rural states as a lack of jobs and weak farm prices dented Modi’s popularity.
But pollsters say Modi’s chances have improved significantly thanks to his tough stance on Pakistan
At the rally, Modi repeatedly spoke about the Indian bombing of the suspected militant camp. He also referred to a test on Wednesday in which India shot down one of its own satellites in space, which he said made India a space power.
Modi also promised economic growth and a prosperous society for all.
Modi’s main challenger is the Congress party, which was for decades India’s dominant political party.
One Modi supporter derided a recent Congress offer to hand out Rs 6,000 ($87) a month to the poorest families if it was voted back into power.
“I know how the economy works,” said chartered accountant Anupam Sharma. “GDP would be decimated.”
Reuters
