New Delhi: A hero's welcome was accorded to Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday after Gujarat chief minister thundered to victory in India's general elections, trouncing the ruling Congress in a seismic political shift that gives his party a mandate for sweeping economic reform.
A brass band struck up early in the morning at the capital's airport as crowds awaited the arrival of Modi from Gujarat, where the night before he had addressed a sea of jubilant supporters chanting his name.
Here is what Narendra Modi is doing today:
- Narendra Modi reached the Capital around 10.30, greeted by a mob of supporters at airport
- Rose petals were showered on Delhi's Janpath to greet Narendra Modi
- Crowds thronged Narendra Modi's cavalcade as he made his way to the BJP headquarters from the airport
- My win is because of the lakhs of BJP workers, Narendra Modi said at the BJP party office
- The lotus shines in Delhi because of the people of India, Modi said in brief addres to the assembled crowds at the party headquarters
- This victory is to those generations of karyakartas who have worked tirelessly over the years, Narendra Modi said
- Narendra Modi was then showered with flowers at the BJP headquarters
- A meeting commenced of the BJP parliamentary board, also attended by L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj
- On the agenda of the board was how Narendra Modi's government would shape up
- Parliamentary board congratulated Narendra Modi for stunning win
- Board decided it will meet on May 20 to choose Narendra Modi as next PM
- We will have a legislative council election in Gujarat to elect the new CM of Gujarat, party chief Rajnath Singh said
- We will provide a government with a high level of probity, said Rajnath Singh
- After the meeting in Delhi, Narendra Modi headed straight for the holy city of Varanasi which he wrested from BJP's Smriti Irani and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal
- It is learnt Narendra Modi will attend the evening aarti on the ghats of the Ganges in Varanasi
- Narendra Modi reached Varanasi in the evening. Kashi Vishwanath Temple was his first stop
- At the temple, Narendra Modi performed the 'rudravishi puja' to Lord Shiva
Modi's landslide win for his Bharatiya Janata Party closes off a chapter of fragile coalition governments, giving the former tea-seller ample room to advance reforms started 23 years ago by current Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but which have stalled in recent years.
Unlike his predecessors, Modi will not have to deal with unruly partners as he implements reform. That could usher in profound economic changes, with some supporters imagining him as India's answer to former British leader Margaret Thatcher.
With more than six times the seats of his closest rival, Modi's is the most decisive mandate for a leader since the 1984 assassination of Congress party prime minister Indira Gandhi propelled her son to office. Starting with the subsequent election in 1989, India has been governed by coalitions.
"Tsunamo!", declared the Asian Age newspaper on its front page, playing on the name 'NaMo' often used for Modi.
"Modi juggernaut crushes Congress," the Business Standard newspaper's headline exclaimed after Friday's results showed the party of the Gandhis and Prime Minister Singh suffered its worst-ever wipeout, winning just 44 of the 543 parliamentary seats at stake in the election that was staggered over five weeks.
With almost all seats declared by Saturday morning, Modi's BJP looked set to win 282 seats, 10 more than the majority required to rule. With its allied parties, it was heading for a comfortable tally of around 337.
