BJP here to stay for 50, not 5 years, says Amit Shah

Bhopal: BJP national president Amit Shah on Saturday said the party has not come to power for one or two terms but at least 50 years. Addressing Madhya Pradesh leaders here, Mr Shah said, “We have not come to power for 5-10 years, but at least 50 years. We should move forward with the conviction that in the next 40-50 years we have to bring about major changes in the country through the medium of power.”

Mr Shah also asked state BJP leaders to “target Congress leaders in elections” and ensure that “Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath” are defeated in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He warned of strict action against BJP MLAs who are allegedly helping the two Congress leaders win in polls.

The BJP chief, who is on a three-day visit to the state, told party leaders to pull up their socks. “I want all 29 Lok Sabha seats in MP in 2019,” he said.

In his meeting with party leaders, Mr Shah said, “We have to ensure no place in the country is left where we don’t have our flag. For this, we have to strengthen the organisation further.”

He called upon workers to ensure that the party is present in every polling booth, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kamrup to Kutch.

“We have a majority government at the Centre with 330 MPs, and 1,387 MLAs in different states. Some feel the party is at its peak, but dedicated workers feel we have long way to go,” Mr Shah said, cautioning BJP leaders against complacency ahead of  polls.

Later, Mr Shah, while talking to reporters, expressed hope of an early resolution of the Ayodhya dispute.

“The Ayodhya impasse will be broken either by the court or through talks among the stake holders,” he said.

In an indirect reference to the Doklam flare-up, Mr Shah said: “India can go to any limit to protect itself.”

He said India’s global standing has soared to new heights under  the NDA government-led by Narendra Modi. “The world’s view about the country has changed,” he said.

Mr Shah described the ongoing crusade against corruption as the biggest achievement of the Modi government.