![Prime Minister Narendra Modi lights lamp as BJP president J P Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah look on at the BJP National Council meeting at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on Saturday.(UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi lights lamp as BJP president J P Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah look on at the BJP National Council meeting at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on Saturday.(UNI)](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/page1-1-15-696x520.jpg)
‘Ensure 370 more votes in every Polling Stn’
*Will retain power for 3rd time: Nadda
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said winning 370 seats by the BJP in upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be a true tribute to party ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee who sacrificed his life for abrogation of the Article to preserve unity and integrity of the country.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the BJP office bearers meeting in New Delhi which was followed by the party’s two-day National Council meeting.
Besides the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda attended both the meetings. The office bearers meeting was attended by State/UT presidents and general secretary (Organizations) besides all national office bearers while the national council meeting is being joined by 11,500 leaders including State/UT office bearers, district presidents, Morcha heads and invitees.
A number of BJP leaders from Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the National Council meeting.
“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,” Modi said.
“370 is not merely a number for the BJP. 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,” Modi said.
Mookerjee had defied the permit system at Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir in 1953 and was arrested. He was taken to Kashmir where he died under mysterious circumstances.
Article 370, which granted special status to erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by Narendra Modi Government on August 5, 2019.
In a post on X later, Modi 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.
Modi has set a target of winning 370 seats for the BJP and 400 plus for the NDA saying the BJP which abrogated Article 370 will be blessed by the people with 370 seats.
Addressing the National Council meeting, BJP president J P Nadda underlined the party’s meteoric rise since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office and lauded his leadership in the past decade that has been full of new achievements for the organisation.
He said the Modi Government will score a hat-trick and retain power for a third straight term after the Lok Sabha polls, expected in April-May.
“We have to cross 370 seats and the NDA has to cross 400,” he said in his inaugural address, exhorting party members to put all their energy in achieving the target so that the party breaks its previous records.
Thousands of party delegates from across the country rose to cheer Modi when Nadda made a mention of the women’s reservation law and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya while citing the highlights of the Prime Minister’s tenure.
In his speech, Nadda noted that the BJP ruled only around five States before Modi’s rise in 2014 and it is in power in 12 states now. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in power in 17 states, he said.