Leaders responded, saying, “Corruption, scams, and dynastic politics.” The Prime Minister then said, “So, you have to protect the BJP from becoming Congress.”
Sharing the example of Kalyan Singh, a former chief minister and governor of Rajasthan during the first term of Modi, the PM said that the formula of success in politics was patience. “Those who become impatient, their downfall starts,” he said. “For instance, Kalyan Singh fought within the BJP and left the party.”
Kalyan Singh, an RSS member, had a tumultuous time as a BJP leader. He became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh twice before leaving the party in 1999. He then formed a new party, but in 2004, returned to the BJP fold. In 2009, he resigned from the party but rejoined later in 2014. Since then, he remained with the BJP till his death in 2021.
‘Don’t become congress’
Soon after PM Modi concluded his roadshow Thursday, it was time for his first long interaction with the Bihar BJP leaders. Not a speech, the interaction took the form of Q&As, problem-sharing, finding solutions, and the PM talking about his experiences.
Since the BJP suffered electoral defeats in many states, from Karnataka to Himachal, due to infighting and sabotage, PM Modi, foreseeing such infighting after ticket distribution in Bihar, alerted party leaders by saying that they should stay away from the Congress.
The PM posed a question in connection with the topic: “What is the main recipe for success in politics?” Leaders said political success hinged on being a public man and collective leadership. PM Modi, however, disagreed.
“The only formula for getting success in politics is patience. Those who have patience will ultimately achieve success. Everyone will have a chance, so do not hurry and swap parties. If you or your family members do get a ticket, if you still have patience, you will get what you deserve,” he said.
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‘Shankersinh Vaghela lost patience’
On former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela, PM Modi said, “Once upon a time, Vaghela was a tall leader in Gujarat, but he lost patience. Since then, his downfall began.”
Sharing the examples of Vaghela, as well as Kalyan Singh, PM Modi said, “The party is like a mother. If you leave the party for a temporary gain, in the long term, you will vanish. Stay in the party and wait for your turn. The party gives a chance to everyone.”
PM Modi raised another question: “How do people climb the ladder in politics?” BJP leaders said, “Either through business or by amassing wealth through wrong means.”
However, PM Modi said, “The party suffers due to these personal faults. First, try to become a good human. Only then can you become a good party worker and succeed in politics.”
Sharing his example, PM Modi said, “I started my political journey as a booth worker. I was working in Gujarat, but some party leaders thought I should be moved [referring to Vaghela]. I did not protest. I was sent away from Gujarat and worked outside the state. But I did not lose patience.”
“Today, you can see the fruit of that patience—I am here among you as Prime Minister. So, never try to harm the party and always have faith in it. At times, you may feel a decision was not in your favour, but the party always thinks about those leaders who stay loyal to it,” PM Modi concluded.
‘Celebrate people’s birthdays, anniversaries’
Sharing his tips for winning the Bihar Assembly election, PM Modi asked party leaders to focus on booth-level wins by meeting and spending time with families in their respective booths. “If you start spending time with people in your booth, having tea, or celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries, or any other function, you become a part of their family. Treat spending time with people as your work,” he said.
PM Modi further said, “Do not always think of winning the assembly constituency. If you think of winning the booth, victory will come automatically.”
One BJP MLA, who did not want to be named, told The Print, “He listened to several MLAs’ concerns and gave suggestions as a part of his marg darshan. He told us to spare time for people’s birthdays and anniversaries to cement our bonding with them, and then, there would be no need to ask for votes at the time of elections. It is a practical tip to create more bonding with electors, but most of the time, we, as workers, forget to do that.”
Another Bihar leader told The Print on the condition of anonymity, “Since, within a few months, the party has to fight the assembly election, the PM’s speech was motivational for us. He was cautioning leaders not to lose hope if they do not get a ticket, resorting to sabotaging the party. One of his suggestions was to include a diverse section of people, not just from one or two castes, in the booth committee. It will help us reach more families. Grassroots leaders sometimes forget such practical steps while making committees.”
PM Modi advised BJP leaders to gather feedback from people on government work and anti-incumbency to gain an understanding of public expectations that had remained unfulfilled.
Party leaders should pay extra attention to the booths where the BJP logged below-expectation performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. State leaders cited various reasons, from the selection of the wrong candidates to infighting, for their losses in Bihar during the last polls.
PM Modi asked the leaders how many had visited their booths during the poll. “Try to get 100% enrolment of people in central schemes to increase outreach,” he added.
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Operation sindoor messaging
Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to hold road shows across states to consolidate support for the BJP after Operation Sindoor. Bihar is the first state where the party expects to swing the voter mood and beat anti-incumbency before the assembly election, using Operation Sindoor.
During the interaction in Bihar, PM Modi asked party leaders to amplify the message of how, within 22 minutes, India avenged the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, teaching Pakistan a lesson through Operation Sindoor on 7 May.
During his two-day visit, addressing a rally in Bikramganj Friday, PM Modi continued his sindoor messaging. The PM declared that India had razed terror to the ground.
“The people of Sasaram know the customs of Lord Ram. ‘Praan jaaye par vachan na jaaye (May lose life, but promise should be kept)’… After the dreadful terrorist attack in Pahalgam, I had promised the country, standing on the land of Bihar, that we would raze the hideouts of the masters of terrorism to the ground and that the punishment would be bigger than ever imagined. Today, when I came to Bihar, I came here after fulfilling my promise,” PM Modi said. “Those people who sat in Pakistan and destroyed the vermilion of our sisters… our Army turned their hideouts into ruins.”
“What power there is in the vermilion of the daughters of India … Pakistan, as well as the world, witnessed it! The terrorists considered themselves safe under the protection of the Pakistani Army … our forces brought them to their knees in one stroke,” PM Modi declared. “We destroyed Pakistani airbases and military bases in just a few minutes.”
“This is the new India; this is the strength of the new India,” PM Modi told the crowd. “Our fight against terrorism has neither stopped nor halted. If terror raises its head again, India will bring it out from its hiding and crush it.”
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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