Emotional Modi dedicates his Govt to the poor, youth

Narendra Damodardas Modi is to be India’s 14th Prime Minister, and will be sworn in on May 26 at 6 pm.

The Prime Minister-elect was handed his appointment letter by President Pranab Mukherjee after a highly charged BJP parliamentary party meeting, where Modi broke down, and many leaders, including LK Advani, fought back tears.

“I came to call on the President. The President has given me a formal letter and has invited me for the oath-taking ceremony on May 26 at 6 pm as we had earlier decided,” Modi told reporters after he emerged from a meeting with Pranab Mukherjee.

Parliamentary party meeting

Earlier, around noon, the BJP’s newly elected MPs gathered in the Central Hall of Parliament. Also present were the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs, former Leaders of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, top office-bearers and chief strategist Amit Shah.

The BJP Chief Ministers of Rajasthan (Vasundhara Raje), Madhya Pradesh (Shivraj Singh Chouhan), Chhattisgarh (Raman Singh) and Goa (Manohar Parrikar) were special invitees. The BJP’s distinct subculture dominated the proceedings from the moment Narendra Modi bowed and touched his forehead to the steps of the Central Hall before entering what he described as “the temple of democracy”.

Modi then touched Advani’s feet. “I have a weakness… I am prone to tears. I cried when India became Independent, I had tears when Emergency was lifted and, now, when the BJP is at this historic cusp of history, I thank Narendra Modi for his kripa, for letting me witness this unforgettable moment,” said the 86-year-old Advani, while proposing Modi’s name as leader of the BJP parliamentary party and the next Prime Minister.

The MPs accepted the proposal with loud thumping of desks and cheering.

The proposal was then endorsed by all the constituents of the National Democratic Alliance.

Vote ‘for hope, change’

In a sentimental acceptance speech, Modi described the mandate as a “vote for hope and change for the better”.

He thanked the party MPs, many of whom were openly crying. There was a catch in his own voice when he said: “Advaniji used the word kripa. Please don't use these terms. The party is my mother; it has done me the favour of giving me an opportunity to serve it. How can a son’s duty to his mother be described as kripa?”

He paused, leaned on the podium and asked for a glass of water. BJP president Rajnath Singh motioned the marshal to give his kerchief to the PM-elect. Many in the large audience of newly elected MPs appeared equally moved as the PM-elect continued: “Modi is seen not because Modi’s stature is big. Modi is visible because party elders hoisted him on their shoulders…

“Had Atal Bihari Vajpayee been well, his presence would have completed this moment,” he said.

Modi said that a “government should be one that works for the poor and this is why the new government is committed to the poor of the country and dedicated to the youth of the country as well as our mothers and daughters…

“We’re here not for posts but to represent the aspirations of 125 crore people. Fulfilling my responsibility is the main goal. An era of responsibility has begun. When we meet in 2019, I will give you and my countrymen a report card... I will live for India.”