Shri Narendra Modi appointed Chairman of BJP’s 2014 Lok Sabha Election Campaign Committee

"Top BJP leaders congratulate Shri Modi"

"CM thanks BJP leaders and Karyakartas for reposing faith in him"

"Shri Modi speaks to Shri LK Advani on the phone and receives his blessings"

Gandhinagar 9^th June, 2013: Shri Narendra Modi was appointed as the Chairman of the 2014 Lok Sabha Election Campaign Committee of the BJP today. The announcement was made by BJP National President Shri Rajnath Singh during the Party National Executive Meeting of the Party. Shri Rajnath Singh was flanked by the top leadership of the party including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Shri Arun Jaitley, former BJP President Shri Venkaiah Naidu among others. Goa Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar was also present.

Shortly after the announcement, Shri Modi Tweeted, “Senior leaders have reposed faith in me. We will leave no stone unturned for Congress Mukt Bharat Nirman. Thanks for support & blessings.”Shri Modi called up senior BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister of India Shri LK Advani and the senior leader blessed Shri Modi. Shri Modi wrote on Twitter, “Spoke to Advani ji on the phone. He gave me his blessings. Honoured and extremely grateful to receive his blessings.”

Shri Rajnath Singh Tweeted, “I have appointed Shri Narendra Modi as the Chairman of BJP Election Campaign Committee.” Former BJP President Shri Nitin Gadkari affirmed that the party will do well under Shri Modi’s leadership.

Wishes poured in from all sides to wish Shri Modi on this new responsibility by the party. Sushma Swaraj, senior BJP leader, said on microblogging site Twitter, "BJP President Shri Raj Nath Singh ji has appointed Shri Narendra Modi Chairman of BJP Election Campaign Committee. I wish him all the best in this mission." Senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister and Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said “He has no match in the Congress party or elsewhere.” BJP leader, Arun Jaitley said, "It is not only an overwhelming consensus among the leaders but there is a near unanimous view among the cadres that you have to give a special responsibility to a person who is perceived as highly popular and inspirational leader.”

Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tweeted, “I congratulate Shri Narendra Modi on being appointed as the chief of BJP’s campaign committee. We shall collectively ensure BJP’s victory.” Goa Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar congratulated Shri Modi and described this appointment as a step in the positive direction. He said that everybody wanted this in the party and that there was clapping for five minutes after Shri Modi’s name was announced.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal described Modi’s elevation as “A master stroke and a knock-out punch against a staggering UPA government and Congress party.” He added that “his (Modi’s) clarity of ideas on development and governance and his highly impressive record as a mass-mobiliser and crowd-puller are great assets for the BJP and allies.”

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh told PTI over phone from Panaji, "I congratulate Modiji for his selection. The party will win 2014 general elections with thumping victory under his guidance." He added that “"A number of youths are already associated with Modiji. This decision will also bring thousands of other youths from across the country closer to him."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa greeted 'good friend' and her Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi on his elevation as BJP's election campaign committee chief. Addressing reporters she said “Politically I do not think it would be proper for me to make a comment on what has happened in another party, but at a personal level, Modi is a very good friend of mine, I have high regard for him as an able administrator. My good wishes are always with him whether he wins election in Gujarat or achieves an elevation in his own party. I'm happy for him."

Social media too was abuzz with congratulatory wishes for Shri Modi.

(Taken from TV News and Twitter handles, particularly ANI)

BJP Vice President and Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Smt. Smriti Irani stated that this step taken by the party is a decisive step towards the victory of the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Expressing a similar sentiment, Lok Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh Shri Anurag Thakur said that the people are looking at Shri Modi with hope and that the BJP will emerge victorious in the 2014 Elections.

Shri Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP leader and former Union Minister pointed out that Shri Modi’s performance in Gujarat has been commendable and that he would surely help the BJP in winning the upcoming elections. He Tweeted, “I Congratulate Modi ji on being appointed Chief of BJP Campaign Committee. BJP cadre will work with full energy to ensure BJP victory in 2014.” BJP leader from Bihar Shri Rameshwar Chaurasia expressed confidence that under Shri Modi’s leadership the BJP would win over 300 seats.

The head of the BJP unit in Andhra Pradesh and MLA Shri Kishan Reddy wrote on Twitter, “I congratulate Sri Narendra Modi for his appointment as the head of BJP Election Campaign Committee.” Shri Reddy also went on to say that he had a fruitful discussion with Shri Modi on various issues and even invited him to Andhra Pradesh. BJP treasurer Shri Piyush Goyal posted a photo where he congratulated Shri Modi after Shri Modi was appointed to chair the panel on the 2014 Elections.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and President of Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “As Narendra Modi has been made Chairman of Poll Campaign Committee of BJP, the biggest alliance partner of NDA, it (the decision) would be catalytic in NDA's victory march in 2014 elections."

Yog Guru, Baba Ramdev welcoming the decision told reporters in Haridwar, “This is a step in the right direction. He he is the only leader who can rid the country of Congress' corrupt rule." On a similar note VHP Chief Ashok Singhal welcoming Narendra Modi’s appointment as BJP’s campaign committee head said “the party has honoured the sentiments of the entire country by appointing the Gujarat Chief Minister to the post”.