BJP president Amit Shah Saturday&nbsp;cautioned party leaders against complacency, saying it is yet to reach the peak as he rolled out plans for its expansion in states where it has been traditionally weak.

In his inaugural address at the BJP&#39;s two-day national executive here, he also asserted that the party&#39;s &quot;golden era&quot; would arrive when it rules across the country, from panchayats to Parliament. 
 
Top party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were in attendance as he asked the organisation to resolve for victory in the next round of assembly elections due in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, noting that a similar resolve was made last year during the national executive meeting in Allahabad for five state elections, including in Uttar Pradesh.

Laying down his ambitious growth plan for the party in south and eastern India, the BJP president rejected the contention that the saffron surge had reached its peak with its domination of central and western India and maiden wins in states like Assam and Manipur.

13 chief ministers of the party, the most BJP has ever had, were also in the audience.

Amit Shah said he will spend 95 days touring the country to meet party leaders and workers and asked senior leaders and union ministers to give 15 days to strengthen the organisation while speaking about its growth prospects in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha.

&quot;The BJP is yet to reach its peak. Its golden era will arrive when it rules from panchayat to assemblies across the country and Parliament,&quot; he said.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad briefed reporters on his speech in a closed-door meeting of the party leaders.

He, however, steered clear of recent controversial issues like killing of a man in BJP-ruled Rajasthan by cow vigilantes and deepening impasse in Kashmir, where his party is in power in partnership with PDP.

Ravi Shankar Prasad suggested that a reference to Kashmir may be made during the national executive.

The party&#39;s gold era, he said, will coincide with India&#39;s golden era and it will emerge as a great nation in the world.

The BJP&#39;s massive wins in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have changed the experts&#39; definition of big victories, usually 
associated with two-thirds majority, as it won more than 75 per cent of seats as people have embraced &quot;our politics of 
performance&quot; and rejected opposition parties&#39; politics of brazen appeasement, rank family promotion and casteism, Amit Shah said.

The BJP has also disproved the claims that it can defeat the Congress but not strong regional parties by routing the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party in UT, he said.

Amit Shah said when the BJP won 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2014, it was said that it was a &quot;sudden&quot; development but by sweeping the state in the assembly polls the party has proved that people have embraced it &quot;decisively and whole- heartedly&quot;.

Its win in the state polls was due to the Modi government&#39;s pro-poor and welfare policies, Shah said, reaffirming that the prime minister was the most popular leader since Independence.

Hitting out at the Left government in Kerala over the killing of the BJP and RSS workers allegedly by communist cadres, he said his party will continue to oppose it peacefully and ensure that the &quot;lotus blooms&quot;&nbsp;there as well as Tripura, another Left-ruled state. 
 
The BJP national president said he would spend three days in Kerala as part of the organisational expansion drive. The Modi government, he said, has done more work in three years than other governments had done in two-three terms as he hailed its policies.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 13 chief ministers of the party, were also in attendance

BJP president Amit Shah Saturday cautioned party leaders against complacency, saying it is yet to reach the peak as he rolled out plans for its expansion in states where it has been traditionally weak. In his inaugural address at the BJP's two-day national executive here, he also asserted that the party's "golden era" would arrive when it rules across the country, from panchayats to Parliament. Top party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were in attendance as he asked the organisation to resolve for victory in the next round of assembly elections due in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, noting that a similar resolve was made last year during the national executive meeting in Allahabad for five state elections, including in Uttar Pradesh. Laying down his ambitious growth plan for the party in south and eastern India, the BJP president rejected the contention that the saffron surge had reached its peak with its domination of central and western India and maiden wins in states like Assam and Manipur. 13 chief ministers of the party, the most BJP has ever had, were also in the audience. Amit Shah said he will spend 95 days touring the country to meet party leaders and workers and asked senior leaders and union ministers to give 15 days to strengthen the organisation while speaking about its growth prospects in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha. "The BJP is yet to reach its peak. Its golden era will arrive when it rules from panchayat to assemblies across the country and Parliament," he said. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad briefed reporters on his speech in a closed-door meeting of the party leaders. He, however, steered clear of recent controversial issues like killing of a man in BJP-ruled Rajasthan by cow vigilantes and deepening impasse in Kashmir, where his party is in power in partnership with PDP. Ravi Shankar Prasad suggested that a reference to Kashmir may be made during the national executive. The party's gold era, he said, will coincide with India's golden era and it will emerge as a great nation in the world. The BJP's massive wins in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have changed the experts' definition of big victories, usually associated with two-thirds majority, as it won more than 75 per cent of seats as people have embraced "our politics of performance" and rejected opposition parties' politics of brazen appeasement, rank family promotion and casteism, Amit Shah said. The BJP has also disproved the claims that it can defeat the Congress but not strong regional parties by routing the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party in UT, he said. Amit Shah said when the BJP won 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2014, it was said that it was a "sudden" development but by sweeping the state in the assembly polls the party has proved that people have embraced it "decisively and whole- heartedly". Its win in the state polls was due to the Modi government's pro-poor and welfare policies, Shah said, reaffirming that the prime minister was the most popular leader since Independence. Hitting out at the Left government in Kerala over the killing of the BJP and RSS workers allegedly by communist cadres, he said his party will continue to oppose it peacefully and ensure that the "lotus blooms" there as well as Tripura, another Left-ruled state. The BJP national president said he would spend three days in Kerala as part of the organisational expansion drive. The Modi government, he said, has done more work in three years than other governments had done in two-three terms as he hailed its policies. (PTI)

BJP will rule from panchayats to Parliament: Party president Amit Shah outlines election roadmap at Odisha meet

Opposition parties blaming electronic voting machines (EVMs)&nbsp;for their poll loss underlines their desperation and lack of issues against the BJP, its national president Amit Shah said Saturday,&nbsp;noting that EVMs were never questioned when they won.

Questioning the integrity of electronic voting machines (EVMs) amounted to openly disrespecting the Election Commission, he said in his inaugural address at the two-day national executive meet of the BJP here.

&quot;Opposition parties are in desperation following our win. They have no issue against us. They are not admitting their defeat and instead blaming EVMs,&quot; he said.

Shah wondered if the UPA had not won in 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha polls when EVMs were used or if the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had swept the Delhi assembly polls in 2015 due to use of ballot papers.

The BJP chief also referred to the Congress&#39;s victory in the Punjab assembly polls to make his point.

Briefing reporters on Shah&#39;s speech, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Election Commission has already come out with an open hacking challenge and let people know if Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, who has alleged EVM tempering, was a &quot;hacking expert&quot;.

He said all elections since 1998 were held with the use of EVMs.

Asked about a book written by BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao who had questioned the reliability of EVMs, Prasad said his book is not the official view of his party and it was written long back when the UPA was in power.

Asked about BSP chief Mayawati&#39;s assertion that she would join hands with other parties to take on the BJP, Prasad said the country&#39;s politics has changed and even if all parties came together they would not be able to defeat the saffron party.

&quot;If you analyse the UP election, the BJP would have even if other parties were together,&quot; Prasad said.

Shah in his address also referred to the Shunglu Committee report, which has indicted the Kejriwal government on alleged corruption charges, and said there cannot be a bigger example of lack of probity.

He exhorted party leaders to work to realise the Modi government&#39;s dream of a &#39;New India&#39;.

The central government has also given Padma awards for the first time to many little-known people doing good work in different field and made selection process transparent, he said, while also lauding it for the passage of the GST bills.

The chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur Yogi Adityanath, Trivendra Singh Rawat and Biren Singh, respectively attended their first national executive since assuming their new roles.

They were congratulated by party leaders and workers for their new assignment, especially, Adityanatha, the fiery Hindutva mascot, for taking charge of the politically crucial and country&#39;s most populous state. 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

Questioning the integrity of EVMs amounted to openly disrespecting the Election Commission, Amit Shah said at the national executive meet

Opposition parties blaming electronic voting machines (EVMs) for their poll loss underlines their desperation and lack of issues against the BJP, its national president Amit Shah said Saturday, noting that EVMs were never questioned when they won. Questioning the integrity of electronic voting machines (EVMs) amounted to openly disrespecting the Election Commission, he said in his inaugural address at the two-day national executive meet of the BJP here. "Opposition parties are in desperation following our win. They have no issue against us. They are not admitting their defeat and instead blaming EVMs," he said. Shah wondered if the UPA had not won in 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha polls when EVMs were used or if the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had swept the Delhi assembly polls in 2015 due to use of ballot papers. The BJP chief also referred to the Congress's victory in the Punjab assembly polls to make his point. Briefing reporters on Shah's speech, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Election Commission has already come out with an open hacking challenge and let people know if Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, who has alleged EVM tempering, was a "hacking expert". He said all elections since 1998 were held with the use of EVMs. Asked about a book written by BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao who had questioned the reliability of EVMs, Prasad said his book is not the official view of his party and it was written long back when the UPA was in power. Asked about BSP chief Mayawati's assertion that she would join hands with other parties to take on the BJP, Prasad said the country's politics has changed and even if all parties came together they would not be able to defeat the saffron party. "If you analyse the UP election, the BJP would have even if other parties were together," Prasad said. Shah in his address also referred to the Shunglu Committee report, which has indicted the Kejriwal government on alleged corruption charges, and said there cannot be a bigger example of lack of probity. He exhorted party leaders to work to realise the Modi government's dream of a 'New India'. The central government has also given Padma awards for the first time to many little-known people doing good work in different field and made selection process transparent, he said, while also lauding it for the passage of the GST bills. The chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur Yogi Adityanath, Trivendra Singh Rawat and Biren Singh, respectively attended their first national executive since assuming their new roles. They were congratulated by party leaders and workers for their new assignment, especially, Adityanatha, the fiery Hindutva mascot, for taking charge of the politically crucial and country's most populous state. (PTI)

Parties blaming EVMs for poll loss shows their desperation, says BJP president Amit Shah

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led a roadshow and mingled with crowds at several places breaking security protocol as he arrived here to attend the two-day BJP national executive meeting with saffron expansion in Odisha being its key agenda.

A large number of people stood along the road as Modi stood on his Range Rover&#39;s foot rest with its door open acknowledging the cheering and slogan-chanting masses.

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Odisha: PM Modi waves at supporters as he proceeds towards the venue of BJP National Executive Meet in Bhubaneshwar. <a href="https://t.co/oeVnkHsNjR">pic.twitter.com/oeVnkHsNjR</a>
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Odisha BJP chief Basanta Panda claimed that his road show will herald a &quot;new era of politics&quot; in the state, hopeful that his party, always a marginal force in this eastern state, will emerge as the key challenger to the ruling BJD by the time next Lok Sabha and assembly polls arrive in 2019.

It was almost a 9-km long roadshow starting from the city airport to the Raj Bhawan and then to the executive meeting venue.

Modi, who was clad in all white, beamed and waved at the people gathered on both sides of the road for a glimpse with lotus flowers in their hands.

Defying the security cordon he even got off his vehicle a couple of times, walked up to people, greeted them and even shook hands with some of them.

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He also offered floral tributes to freedom fighters and illustrious sons of the soil on his way to the Raj Bhavan.

As the Prime Minister&#39;s 9 km-long roadshow passed through the main road connecting the airport and the Raj Bhavan, the air was rent with the chants of &#39;Modi .. Modi&#39;, &#39;Bharat Mata Ki Jai&#39; and &#39;Bande Mataram&#39;.

The state BJP also organised folk dance, songs and folk music at different places along the route taken by the Prime Minister.

He received lotus flowers when he was felicitated by members of the BJP&#39;s Mahila Morcha in front of the Raj Bhavan.

After a 20-minute halt at Raj Bhavan, Modi resumed his roadshow. He got off the vehicle and walked about half-a-km near Jaidev Vihar to mingle freely with the people before arriving at Janata Maidan, the venue of the two-day national executive.

(PTI)

Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party staged the roadshow as means to expand the party's base in east India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led a roadshow and mingled with crowds at several places breaking security protocol as he arrived here to attend the two-day BJP national executive meeting with saffron expansion in Odisha being its key agenda. A large number of people stood along the road as Modi stood on his Range Rover's foot rest with its door open acknowledging the cheering and slogan-chanting masses. Odisha: PM Modi waves at supporters as he proceeds towards the venue of BJP National Executive Meet in Bhubaneshwar. pic.twitter.com/oeVnkHsNjR — ANI (@ANI_news) April 15, 2017 × Odisha BJP chief Basanta Panda claimed that his road show will herald a "new era of politics" in the state, hopeful that his party, always a marginal force in this eastern state, will emerge as the key challenger to the ruling BJD by the time next Lok Sabha and assembly polls arrive in 2019. It was almost a 9-km long roadshow starting from the city airport to the Raj Bhawan and then to the executive meeting venue. Modi, who was clad in all white, beamed and waved at the people gathered on both sides of the road for a glimpse with lotus flowers in their hands. Defying the security cordon he even got off his vehicle a couple of times, walked up to people, greeted them and even shook hands with some of them. #WATCH Live : PM Modi in Bhubaneswar, Odisha https://t.co/Ae2CSh9xTL — ANI (@ANI_news) April 15, 2017 × He also offered floral tributes to freedom fighters and illustrious sons of the soil on his way to the Raj Bhavan. As the Prime Minister's 9 km-long roadshow passed through the main road connecting the airport and the Raj Bhavan, the air was rent with the chants of 'Modi .. Modi', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Bande Mataram'. The state BJP also organised folk dance, songs and folk music at different places along the route taken by the Prime Minister. He received lotus flowers when he was felicitated by members of the BJP's Mahila Morcha in front of the Raj Bhavan. After a 20-minute halt at Raj Bhavan, Modi resumed his roadshow. He got off the vehicle and walked about half-a-km near Jaidev Vihar to mingle freely with the people before arriving at Janata Maidan, the venue of the two-day national executive. (PTI)

Indian PM Modi turns on charm offensive in Odisha roadshow