370 | PM Modi sets BJP’s Lok Sabha target

New Delhi, Feb 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said that winning 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would be a true tribute to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s key ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

Addressing a meeting of the BJP’s national office-bearers before the start of its convention, he said, “For BJP, 370 is not merely a number. It symbolises a profound sentiment. Mookerjee made the ultimate sacrifice for the abrogation of Article 370 to preserve our nation’s unity and integrity. As a true tribute to him, the BJP should secure victory in 370 seats.”

Soon after returning to power for a second time, PM Modi-led government in August 2019 scrapped Article 370 of the constitution, which accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Every party worker should focus on polling booths in the next 100 days, the period by which the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are likely to be over, and ensure at least 370 more votes for the party at every polling station than in 2019,” the PM said.

He said that every BJP member should build the party’s Lok Sabha poll campaign around the government’s development and pro-poor welfare initiatives besides the measures to enhance the country’s global standing.

The Lok Sabha has 543 seats, and the BJP won 282 seats in 2014 and 303 in 2019.

PM Modi has set a target for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to win over 400 seats.

In a post on X, he said, “Addressed the @BJP4India National Office Bearers. Complimented every Party Karyakarta for their exceptional efforts to serve people. Discussed ways to deepen our Party’s grassroots level connect across all sections of society. Over the last decade, the BJP has made a mark as a party of development and good governance. Our schemes, initiatives and reforms have transformed several lives.”

With the BJP likely to name its candidates for the polls in April-May, the PM asked BJP members to keep in mind that ‘lotus’ (BJP’s poll symbol) will be its candidate at every seat it would contest and work to ensure its win.

He said that first-time voters should be made aware of the difference between India before 2014 and the one after.

PM Modi said women were not just voters for the BJP but were mothers and sisters who would shower their electoral blessings on the party in the elections in support and acknowledgement of the work done by the NDA government for them.

He said that the opposition would engage in more negative politics as the Lok Sabha polls near and raise more emotional issues to influence voters but the focus of the party’s campaign would remain on the work done for the welfare of the poor