PRIME Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday called on party veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi to seek their blessings, a day after the party-led NDA returned to power at the Centre with a massive mandate. Accompanied by Shah, Modi visited Advani’s house where he touched the feet of the veteran BJP leader and interacted with him briefly.

 

Later in a tweet, Modi said, “Called on respected Advani Ji. The BJP’s successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people.”

Advani on Thursday had congratulated Modi for his “unprecedented victory”. He had also credited BJP President Amit Shah for an “enormous effort” in taking the party’s message to the voters

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After meeting Advani, both leaders drove to Joshi’s house where Modi was greeted by the party’s veteran leader with a bouquet. Joshi also hugged him and presented a stole to Modi.

Modi touched Joshi’s feet, who congratulated him by offering sweets. In another tweet, Modi said, “Dr Murli Manohar Joshi is a scholar and intellectual par excellence. His contribution towards improving Indian education is remarkable. He has always worked to strengthen the BJP and mentor several Karyakartas, including me”.

“Met him this morning and sought his blessings.”

 

PM Modi, Amit Shah have achieved a magical victory: Prof M M Joshi: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have achieved a magical victory, said Prof Murli Manohar Joshi, a party veteran, here on Friday.

 

Terming PM Modi and Shah coming to meet him as a part of the party culture, Prof Joshi told reporters: “It is our party culture to meet and take blessings of senior leaders to work more effectively in the future. Both of them did a good job and have achieved a magical victory.”

 

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and Shah visited party veterans L K Advani and then Joshi. They also credited them for the party’s win with a resounding majority.

Advani and Joshi had on Thursday congratulated Modi and Shah after trends showed the BJP was headed for a comfortable majority in the 542-member Lok Sabha. Joshi said BJP’s rise under Modi-Shah duo as the people wanted a stable Government for which there was no better choice than Narendra Modi.

 

“We formed the party like sowing a seed and prepared a tree. Now, these people have taken forward the fruitful tree and will give its fruits to the public. One thing was clear that the entire country was feeling to form a strong and committed Government. Therefore, there was no choice other than the BJP as a party and Narendra Bhai Modi as a leader,” said Joshi.

 

He went on to add: “I have only one expectation that the party should deliver as best as possible and whatever contribution any party worker can make to make the delivery effective and long-lasting, he should make that contribution.”

 

BJP has secured 303 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The total tally of NDA is close to 352. This was also the first MP election for BJP President Shah, who himself won comfortably from Gandhinagar by defeating Congress candidate C J Chavda by a margin of over five lakh votes.