Amit Shah’s message to Kejriwal: ‘BJP’s next target is 2020 Delhi assembly poll’

After an impressive victory in the Delhi municipal elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is determined to replicate the astounding performance in the 2020 assembly elections.

Party president Amit Shah on Tuesday said the final destination was not civic bodies but the Delhi government. Urging party workers to unite and prepare for the next ‘goal’, he said this success will lay the foundation for assembly elections.

“The next target is Delhi government. It is your responsibility to earn the trust of the people and ensure party’s win. You (new councillors) should be more humble and work as a responsible leader. You should be answerable for your acts,” he said.

In a strong message to newly elected corporators against indulging in unfair practices, Shah said they should work for the betterment of the people of Delhi. “We should work as per the expectations of the people. Instead of improvement in your own life, there should be a change in the lives of residents of the city,” he added.

Taking dig at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Shah said the people had rejected negativity, anarchy, and the politics of excuses.

“This (election result) has initiated a new chapter in Indian politics. People have stopped those who indulge in negativity, anarchism and politics of excuses,” he said.

Shah was addressing a gathering of newly elected councillors, former corporators and MLAs, party candidates who have lost recent municipal elections and 2015 assembly polls, state officer-bearers and workers. The programme —‘Vijay Parv Diwas’— was organised to appreciate and acknowledge the contribution of party workers.

Present on the occasions were party vice-president Shyam Jaju, national general secretary Ram Lal, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, six Lok Sabha MPs from the city, union ministers Vijay Goel, Nirmala Sitharaman, Jitendra Singh and others.

Stressing upon why the win in municipal elections is important for the party, the BJP leader said the election results in the city sends a ‘message’ across the country.

“If we win an election in Delhi, it is a great responsibility. This victory is important. It is not only the Capital of the country but represents the entire country. You must work to ensure improvement in civic amenities and controversy free and transparent administration,” he said.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Tiwari attributed party’s performance in elections to the efforts of party workers and the strategy charted by Shah. “This historic decision has come with a responsibility and it is our duty to perform,” he said.