Assembly poll results 2016 stamp on performance of Modi govt, says Amit Shah

New Delhi: With Bharatiya Janata Party's stupendous success in 2016 Assembly polls, party president Amit Shah on Thursday gave the credit to the mentorship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said 'Congress-mukt India' is soon going to be a reality.

Addressing a press conference here, Shah said, “BJP has performed well in all five states. I thank the people of all states for their support. BJP's performance in assembly polls is in a way people's stamp on performance of Modi government in the last two years. Poll results show that a strong foundation of BJP has been laid for ensuring victory in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

He further said, “Today, the country has moved two steps forward, giving impetus to our campaign 'Congress-mukht Bharat'.”

Further hitting out at Congress, Shah said, “Assembly Election Results show that people who trying to disrupt Parliament and politicise issues have been shown doors by voters.”

"In Kerala, BJP's vote share has increased from 6 to nearly 15%. In Puducherry & Tamil Nadu, we have maintained our vote share," Shah added.

The party president further applauded the hard work of BJP workers and said, "Unmatched efforts and sacrifice of party workers in Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu has established a strong party base in these states."

Shah congratulated party voluntaries and other members for a thumping victory and creating history in Assam Assembly polls. 

"Assam's victory is important in many ways, given that it is a border state. Govt is committed to the development of the state," he said.

He further congratulated the Prime Minister, chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sharma and other leaders and workers for the Assam victory and praised the hard work of leaders in states like Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

He also congratulated workers and leaders of Gujarat for winning the Talala Assembly bypoll. The seat has been wrested from Congress.

On Bengal and Tamil Nadu, Amit Shah said, "We accept the verdict of WB and TN with all humility."

He further congratulated Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalithaa for retaining power in Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively.  

Meanwhile, Union Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the Assam poll victory is a result of lifetime work of workers and leaders in building the organisation.

"My heartfelt gratitude to the people of Assam for electing a BJP Government in the state. Profound greetings to the BJP workers of Assam.

"This victory is the result of life time work of those who dedicated their lives building the organisation in the north east. My greetings to BJP President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," she said.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said BJP's victory in Assam is a "happy gift" to the party and the Prime Minister on completion of two years of NDA government at the Centre.

"Today's result is a clear slap on the face of opportunistic opposition alliance. Assembly results clearly show that people of India are intolerant towards Congress party because Congress was not ready to accept the verdict of the people," he told reporters.

BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who is part of party's Margdarshak Mandal and was among the veterans who were critical of Modi-Shah leadership after the Bihar debacle last year, has written to both the PM and the party chief, congratulating them for BJP's success in these polls.

He voiced hope that it will give the workers confidence to replicate the same in the upcoming elections, especially in Uttar Pradesh.