'No longer needs crutches': Amit Shah on BJP in Maharashtra; lauds party's 'politics of performance'

Mumbai: The BJP in Maharashtra no longer walks on crutches; it stands on its own feet, declared Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Mumbai on Monday as he attended the bhoomipujan programme for the party's new regional headquarters to be built near Churchgate station. He exhorted party workers to ensure the opposition is wiped out in the forthcoming local elections so much so that they are "not seen even with the help of binoculars."

Addressing party workers on the occasion, Shah said, "Just like in Indian politics, the BJP's existence and ideology have their own unique stand. Similarly, in Maharashtra too, no one can deny that the BJP is a strong signature. The construction of the 55,000 sq ft building, library, six meeting rooms, conference room, 400-seat auditorium, and most importantly, a CM's office will remind the CM that he was elected from this office, and is handling the affairs of the state." He added that he requested CM Devendra Fadnavis to make rooms for party workers like him to stay.


Shah asserted the BJP has proven that dynasty politics no longer works in the country. "It is the politics of performance that will lead the nation forward," he said, adding that PM Narendra Modi is a prime example of this. Born in a humble tea vendor's home, he rose through his dedication, sacrifice, and hard work to be PM of India. "Those parties who cannot internalise democratic values in their workings cannot protect democracy in the country," he said.

Shah said the BJP under PM Modi has implemented all its ideological promises made in the 50s, like the abrogation of Article 370, construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, CAA, ban on triple talaq, and some states even implemented the uniform civil code. The Pahalgam terror attack was avenged with Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, proving to the enemies that no one can fiddle with the army and borders, he said.

"All our ideological stands have been cleared, and now we are focusing on Viksit Bharat in 2047. The party has the responsibility of conducting principled politics for the country's future," he said.

Referring to the double engine govt in Maharashtra, he said he was not happy with it and wants a triple engine govt. He exhorted party workers to ensure the party sweeps the local body elections.

He reminded workers that in 2014, the BJP was number 4 in Maharashtra, but rose to become the number one party in the state. He recounted that the party in 2014, sought a respectable seat-sharing alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena, but the alliance broke. For the first time, the party fought the elections on its own and emerged as the single largest party with Devendra Fadnavis as the CM. "Thereafter, we won three times as NDA, and today Fadnavis is the CM," he said.