Balasore: Narendra Modi on Sunday said the trends in elections suggest that his responsibilities are increasing, alluding to the massive turnout of people in the Lok Sabha elections.
With BJP being seen as a principle challenger to Naveen Patnaik-led BJP in parts of Odisha instead of Congress, the party`s Prime Ministerial candidate told a rally here that the affection voters of the state had "shown" for his party in polling booths yesterday has augmented his responsibilities towards them.
"It seems from the trend visible in elections and your affection, which was visible in the polling booths of Odisha yesterday, that my responsibilities are increasing. It is especially so towards you," he said.
"You have showered love toward me and I will return it with dividend. Though I am born in Lord Somnath`s land, I have no less affection toward the people in the land of Lord Jagannath," he said.
Ten Lok Sabha seats in the state went to polls yesterday and the remainder 11 constituencies will vote on April 17.
Criticising BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik`s lack of ability to speak, read and write Odia language, Modi wondered how the people had tolerated him for 15 years.
"The man who does not understand you language, feel your miseries and pain, cannot give you a good government," Modi said.
"Does your CM meet you? Do you need such people?... You have tolerated a person for 15 years who does not understand your language. You have given Madam Sonia 10 years in the Centre and this government 15 years, give me 60 months," he said, attacking Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Many scams have occurred in the state but were not discussed much as they were overshadowed by the bigger scams in the Centre, Modi said.
The BJP`s prime ministerial candidate said he will change Odisha like he did Gujarat.
Congress, he charged, uses the poor as an election tool and chants their name during elections but the BJP is avowed to serving them.
Modi said that during the campaign he had a clear message
that people have to decide on whether to fight with each other or to unite and fight poverty, saying the "former will lead us nowhere while the latter will take our nation to greater heights".
He said it was not Modi or any one else who is fighting these elections but it is the people of India who have taken these elections on their shoulders. "Each and every citizen of India has become a driving force of change," he said.
The Gujarat Chief Minister also thanked the party workers for their tireless and selfless efforts during the campaign as they went door-to-door to spread the party`s message to create a better India for future generations. He also lauded the role of the leaders from whose experience and wisdom the party derives immense strength and inspiration.
"We do not view campaigns through the limited prism of electoral victory or defeat...This campaign will be remembered for path-breaking innovation," he said.
Terming his long campaign as "extensive, innovative and satisfying", Modi said that "throughout our campaign, BJP took the agenda of development and good governance to every corner of India.
The Gujarat Chief Minister addressed rallies and programmes in almost 5,800 locations, covering a distance of over three lakh kilometers in the last eight months starting September 13 ever since he became BJP`s Prime Ministerial candidate.
In his current poll campaign, he addressed 440 rallies, including Bharat Vijay Rallies that began on March 26 this year, besides 4,000 "Chai pe charcha" rallies and 12 rounds of 3D rallies at 1,350 locations.
"No words will be able to convey my gratitude to the people. I assure the people of India that I will repay this overwhelming affection with unprecedented development that will lay the foundations of a strong India," he said.
"There is something in this soil that makes India special. History is full of examples of how our land has shown the way to the world and today once again, our destined role of a Jagad Guru calls us. Let us rise to the occasion and create a strong, developed and inclusive India that will show the way to the world," he said.
