BJP sweeps Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari defeats Mamata in Bhabanipur

India Today

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a historic victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, marking a significant political shift in eastern India.

Transcript

00:02T.D.'s Khela Shesh in Bengal Bengal's Sweet Sondesh for BJP PM's Poribortan Pitch Propels Political Pulse

00:30Double Century for Saffron Party Maa Maati Manush and Mandate with Modi

00:59Gangotri to Ganga Sagar Lotus in Bloom

01:05Gangotri se lekar Ganga Sagar tak, Kamal hi Kamal khila hua hai

01:16BJP's Ideological Homecoming

01:18Badla, not Badla

01:26It's a landmark day for the BJP as its long-cherished political dream in the state of Bengal has finally

01:35come true

01:36Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visibly elated after the BJP's historic performance, arrived at the party headquarters in Delhi dressed in

01:44a Bengali-style dhuti kurta

01:46He called the victory historic and unprecedented and asserted that years of struggle have finally yielded results

01:54He added that the legacy of Dr. Shama Prasad Mukherjee would now find fulfillment in this mandate for a strong

02:03and united India

02:04He said this is badlao or change, not badla or revenge

02:10Not just that, he also said that Bengal is now bhaimukht and bharosa yukht

02:15That has been the slogan of the BJP in this election

02:18The Prime Minister also assured strict action against infiltrators

02:22And reiterated his government's commitment to safety, jobs and vikas in Bengal

02:27From Uttarakhand to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar to Bengal

02:30He said, the lotus bloom reflects a broader wave of support

02:35Listen in to what all the Prime Minister said

02:42Cambodia

02:43чем

02:44Debatte

02:55From Uttarri

02:56It

02:57We

02:59It

02:59You

02:59It

03:00I

03:07It

03:07ुपि नया अध्याय जुड गया है एक ऐसा परिवेश जहां मन भयमुक्त हो और सीर उंचा हो

03:24और बीजेपी बंगाल में ऐसा भयमुक्त वातवन बना कर दिखाएगी ये मोदी की गारंटी है

03:42आज जब भाजपा जीती है तो बदला नहीं बदलाओ की बात होनी चाहिए

03:55भाई नहीं भविश्य की बात होनी चाहिए

04:00जब भारत सम्रुद्ध था तो उसके तीन मजबुत स्तंब थे ये स्तंब थे अंग अंग यानी आज का बिहार

04:16बंग यानी आज का बंगाल और कलिंग यानी आज का उडिशा

04:25विक्षित भारत के निर्माण के लिए इन तीनों स्तंबों का फिर से मजबुत होना बहुत आवश्यक है

04:41और मुझे बहुत गर्व है कि अंग बंग और कलिंग ने इस महा अभियान के लिए बीजेपी को चुन लिया

04:54है

04:57डॉक्तर मुखर जी ने पस्तिब बंगाल को भारत का हिस्सा बनाये रखने के लिए एक बड़ी लड़ाई लड़ी थी

05:09उन्होंने जिस ससक्त और समुरुद बंगाल का सपना देखा था

05:19वो सपना कई दसकों से पुरा हुने का इंतजार कर रहा था

05:28आज चार मई बंगाल की जनता ने हम भाजपा कार्करताओं को वो औसर दिया है

05:47And just few minutes ago, there is a piece of breaking news that has just come in

05:51that there seems to be again defeat of Mamata Banerji, a repeat of 2021 Nandigram, this time in Bhabanipur

06:00In Nandigram, Shivindu Adhikari had defeated Mamata Banerji with a very slim margin of 1,956 votes

06:08This time, the margin of victory between Mamata Banerji and Shivindu Adhikari is huge in the upwards of 15,000

06:16It's a repeat of Nandigram and by defeating the Chief Minister, has Shivindu Adhikari emerged as the leader number one

06:26for the BJP in the state of Bengal soon after that defeat

06:29This is what the leader of opposition in Bengal Assembly had to say

06:46This is what the leader of Mamata Banerji

06:52Mamata Banerji ka harana bhoot joruri tha, Mamata Banerji ka raja naitik sannas, abid, ho gya hai

07:0221-21 Nandigram me hari is bar har gya

07:07Is bar bhi hara 15,000 se jada vote se

07:11Unko kukul ke musalman vote diya

07:13War number 77 me

07:15Jitna musalman vote diene ke liye nikla

07:18Samb Mamata ko vote diya

07:20Aar mujhe hindu, sikh, johin, buddhist logane asir vat dhe kar jita ya

07:28Ejit hindutta ka jit hai

07:31Ejit bangal ka jit hai

07:34Ejit narendra modi ji ka jit hai

07:54And let me go straight to Kolkata

07:56From where former BJP MP and States General Secretary BJP West Bengal is joining us

08:03Lockett Chatterjee, congratulations to you

08:06You were particularly very, very active among the women voters

08:10Trying to build a narrative for your party

08:13And just look at the mandate

08:15Did you expect something like this, Ms. Chatterjee?

08:18Perni toh aapko bada hai

08:20Aur, yes

08:23Ham log toh already pariwartan karch chuke thai

08:27Just fort me ke liye ham log ka apiksha tha

08:30Kyunki ham log ko bada tha ki aaj is time mein

08:33Madhu one-sided victory hoga

08:35Aur 200 ka paas bhi kar ega

08:38Aur, pura gharghar mein pura janta nye vote diya, maila nye vote diya, zinzi nye vote diya, sab log nye,

08:47pura, pusthi bangal ka janta nye, hum log ko pura ashir vat kiya

09:19Jee, aur pradhan mantri narend modi

09:202021, aap loog dhekhe hai, hum log 2018 panchayet chunau se dhek raha hai, 200 ka jyadha karekartta ka maut

09:29ho ga, shaheed ho ga hai, after 2021 election ke baad, joh post full violence me, 2-3 laag karekartta

09:35bingol se dur ho gae thai, maila loog bingol se baahat chale gae thai, bauh sara loog ko, sara loog

09:41ko, sara loog ko shaheed hoa tha, ghar ghar jala diya tha, loot ho ga ya tha, pura, uske baad,

09:47aap loog dhekhe hai ki, 24 ka election,

09:49loog saba ka election, uske baad, tura, tura, tura, tura, tura kerke, sab janta ke mann me bhi aya nahi,

09:55yeh, joh 15 sal ke liye, joh sarkar aya hai, joh lutera ka sarkar aya hai, is time me, 5

09:59sal, joh 21 ke baad, joh 5 sal ke baad,

10:02haam loog isko hattayenge, aur pura ye election, janta nye lari, aur ham loog pariti janta pari ka har karekartta,

10:09unka sath dhiya.

10:12Agar bangal ki janta nye ye chunau lada, tum bangal ki mahilau nye bhi aapka sath dhiya, yeh saaf tawar

10:19pe dhikha hai,

10:19کہ bangal ki mahilau nye mahilau mokhye mentri ka sath chhoda hai, kya kya issue aapko lagtata hai, particularly among

10:26the women resonated.

10:292011 me jab mahilau mokhye mentri mamta bainat ji ji ji aya thay, tab sab loog ko laga tha ki

10:33sab se jyadha mahilau loogu ko milengi.

10:37Lekin uske baad, ek ke baad, ek paak sik dhekhi, ee, kamduni, kardip, kuchbihar, birbun, bahu saara jaga meh mahilau

10:44ki ope ahtiya chara huwa hai,

10:45usko maara diya gya hai, usko khun huwa hai, usko nadhi ke saide meh usko fake ke jala diya tha,

10:53bahu saara kuch huwa tha, lekin eeg bhi, eeg bhi bhi biciar, eeg mahilau mokhye mentri hone ke baajut bhi

10:59nahi huwa tha.

11:00Eeg tariqe se pundra sor rupaya karke lakshmi bhandar, dousre haatho meh mahilau loogu ka sammán hana hi ho ra

11:06tha.

11:07Mahilau ka pashri mangal meh koji surakshya nahi tha.

11:10Is time meh muskidabad meh joh khadna ghati thi, usmeh bhi mahilau loogu ko upar pura loo't hoa tha, loo't.

11:17Loot kiya tha mahilau loogu ka, mahilau loogu baathiyo ko lhe kar mahalda meh jake, koji camp pe jake poulis

11:22ne lukha ya tha.

11:23Toh itne saara ghajna ghati thi, or last time meh joh arjikal case aap loogu ne dhekhe hai,

11:28ki eeg doctor beti ka jaisa karke, joh gang rip hoke usko jaisa khun huwa tha.

11:35Pura pashri mangal ka mahilau, janta, pura raakshiti se upar hoke,

11:40sab loog raastte ke sarakke uupar aa gaya tha.

11:42Toh liekin mamtaab energy mahilau hoke bhi uska bechara nahi kiya hai,

11:47uska bhi dhimag meh tha ki mahilau loogu ka jab mauka aayega,

11:51tab hum log isko button se daba ke isko hattayenge.

11:55Or aaj port meh already iske pahele joh vote huwa tha 23rd, 29th meh,

12:03ismeh already mahilau loogu ne ektam decision lhe liya tha, decide ho gaya tha,

12:07ki is time meh hum log paribartan karayenge.

12:10Bas aaj ke date ka hum log ka apikshat tha.

12:12Toh har ghar meh hum log johan par bhi gaya tha,

12:14yeh log nye bola tha ki nishkint raho ha.

12:17Is time meh bharatiya janta party aayega.

12:20Sab loog modi ji ko ashiruvat kiya.

12:24Lauke ji, eeg čeeze bola jata hai bengol ki kontekst me,

12:28ki joh political culture hai,

12:31voh chain nahi hota hai.

12:3234 sal ki left rule ke baad,

12:34Mamata Banerji ne vohi political culture adopt kiya.

12:39Kiya bhajpaa bhi vohi karayegi?

12:4134 years,

12:43uske bad poora CPM ka,

12:4550 near CPM and Trinomul Congress.

12:49Same, same thing.

12:51Or charge guna bada diya tha,

12:53iska torture.

12:54Lekin,

12:56bharatiya janta party,

12:57party with a difference.

12:58And we all know that in Narendra Modi ji ka netritto me,

13:02this was a slogan bhi hoa tha.

13:04Boy out,

13:05bharosa in.

13:06Aaj bhi Pradhan Mannti Narendra Modi ji nai bola,

13:09abhi dar ka mahon,

13:11pashchi mangal mein nahi rahe ga.

13:14Aram se sab log,

13:15sab kuch kar pahengi,

13:16swaadhin hai,

13:17unka koji bhi language ko leke,

13:19jaisa,

13:20Mamata Banerji loge,

13:21hum loge ko language ko leke,

13:23hum loge ko leke,

13:28murineh rishi ko leke,

13:30hum loge ko leke,

13:31hum loge ko leke,

13:33hum loge ko leke,

13:35joh divide and rules,

13:38joh pashchi mangal mein create kar raha he,

13:40janta us me shamil nahi huwa tha.

13:43Janta ka rai tha,

13:44sir bhi kas ho ba.

13:45Ar Narendra Modi ji ka netritto me,

13:47joh dusra,

13:49pradesh me bhi jaisa gujrahat,

13:50jaisa uttar pradesh,

13:51jaisa madhra pradesh,

14:08All right, Lockett Chatterjee, I know you have to head for an important meeting, so I won't be holding much

14:14of your time.

14:14Thank you so much and congratulations for what has been a phenomenal victory for your party.

14:20Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.

14:23And Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed Shubindu Adhikari's victory against Mahamata Banerjee and he has tweeted hats off to

14:30the people of Babanipur.

14:32Their mandate has made it clear what fate awaits an anarchic ruler.

14:37Those are the words of Home Minister Amit Shah.

14:39He particularly had predicted this loss for Mahamata Banerjee in Babanipur.

14:46Remember, Shubindu Adhikari had defeated Mahamata Banerjee in 2021 in Nandigraam with a very slender margin of just 1,956

14:57votes.

14:58But now that margin has increased in Babanipur, it is seen as Mahamata Banerjee's home turf.

15:06That's where Mahamata Banerjee's home is and this is what has happened.

15:12Home Minister Amit Shah actually saying that it is hats off to the people of Babanipur.

15:16There's another piece of breaking news coming in now.

15:19Rahul Gandhi has alleged election chori and he has claimed that Assam and Bengal are clear cases of the election

15:26being stolen by the BJP with the support of the election commission.

15:29He has said, we agree with Mahamata Banerjee that more than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal.

15:34Rahul Gandhi saying, we have seen this playbook before in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and in Lok Sabha elections of

15:402024.

15:41He also said that stealing elections, stealing institutions, what other option is left now?

15:51Remember, Rahul Gandhi is not in India at present and then he has put out a tweet saying that there

15:57is some kind of an election chori which has happened

16:00and that it has happened in the state of Assam and Bengal.

16:05We are yet to hear from Mahamata Banerjee on this.

16:12We'll try and connect with one of our reporters on this.

16:15Rahul Gandhi has said that this is a similar playbook.

16:19What he says has played out in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and in Lok Sabha elections of 2024.

16:26He has also concluded that his message that there was stealing of elections, stealing of institutions, what other option is

16:34left now?

16:42It's fascinating that, you know, double engine Sarkar was one of the pitch also for your party.

16:48And I remember you were there when the manifesto release happened.

16:52So tell me what worked, what changed in the BJP strategy from 2021 to 2026.

16:59You also had a dip in 2024 when your 2019 numbers or number of 18 MPs went down to 12.

17:06You have mentioned about, yes, we are fighting from 2019.

17:11We won 18 seats at that time.

17:14Then again, in 2021, we have been defeated.

17:19Again, in 2024, we have tried our level base, but we own only 12 seats.

17:26But this time, this is, you know, we keep continuing our organizational work, our agitation and the public activities between

17:36the public, amongst the public.

17:38And that's why I feel the public has voted, public have voted for us this time.

17:44Do you see this anti-Mamata vote or is this pro-BJP vote or a bit of both?

17:52It is the normal, I think, public has voted against the amount of energy as well as public, they have

18:01been attracted to the developmental work that has inspired them to vote for the BJP.

18:13But that developmental work that has been done, those that have been done by the Honorable Prime Minister of this

18:21country, that is Narendra Modi.

18:24We are seeing the first shots of Nitin Nabeen, the BJP president, arrive at the BJP headquarters.

18:29As any moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive.

18:32It's a big day of celebration for the BJP.

18:35Shukanda Majumdar, my last question before I let you go.

18:39Multiple factors worked for the BJP.

18:41One charge which is being leveled by the Trinamul Congress is that this was not an election in which it

18:47was a level playing field.

18:48That the BJP used the entire machinery against the Trinamul Congress to ensure this victory.

18:58I was the first time when I fought my first election.

19:02I was worried about the EVM and all these things.

19:05The BSP, we used to fear that TMC could do anything.

19:09So now as they are losing, they are using this kind of Hathkanda hypothesis.

19:16It is nothing but this alibi for the defeat.

19:19The public, they have voted against the TMC president government.

19:23That is the main thing.

19:25What does this victory mean to you personally?

19:28Let's begin with that and then I will talk to you as a BJP leader.

19:32Maria Ji is nothing personal but as a public policy practitioner and a representative of Eastern India.

19:41Let me congratulate the people of West Bengal, the people of entire country.

19:47This is a long awaited result needed for development of West Bengal.

19:52Well, now the full circle is complete.

19:55Since last 12 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured countrymen,

20:01unless until the Purwada is there, rightly you have mentioned,

20:05therefore he has given utmost importance to Asteelakshmi, the northeastern part.

20:10He has given importance to West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

20:16These are the long pending underdeveloped area of India, different historical backlogs.

20:24But with Prime Minister's policy, Prime Minister's focus strategy,

20:28now I am happy this area will get a developmental flip, given developmental push.

20:34Employment is a primary challenge of this area.

20:37Security is a primary challenge of this area.

20:39Women's empowerment is a primary challenge of this area.

20:42Health care, education, these are the priority sector of human resources affecting this part of India.

20:48And this part is very intellectually sound, very laborious, very honest people are there,

20:54very hard-working people are there.

20:56But they will get opportunity in their locality with this double Indian government at West Bengal,

21:02at Bihar, at northeastern states and also at Odisha and neighboring states.

21:07This area is going to contribute to India's economy, India's development in a big way,

21:14not for as a person belonging to the eastern part of India.

21:18I am very happy, very enthusiastic and very thrilled to this kind of result.

21:23And again, bow my head to the decisive mandate of West Bengal.

21:28Mr. Pradhan, I want to understand from you, because there's multiple reading which is being done

21:33by the analysts on this kind of mandate.

21:37You know, there has been a lot of things that has worked for the BJP,

21:40a lot of things that did not work for the Trinamul Congress, and that were advantaged BJP.

21:45One reason that is being cited is, is this some kind of consolidation of majority vote?

21:52Or would you say that this is a consolidation of nationalism over sub-nationalism?

21:59No, no.

22:00Bengal, as I said, we belong to the eastern part of India.

22:05We are proud of our own culture, be it Bengali language, be it Uriah language,

22:10be it the tribal language, like Santalu.

22:13This part of India is, and be it Assam,

22:15with the other regional, the small states in the northeastern states.

22:18This is a very culturally composite area.

22:23Let me remind you, historically, who led the freedom movement in this country?

22:28That's right.

22:29Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Nagur, Sri Aurobindo,

22:32Swami Vivekananda envisioned a unified India in the colonial rule.

22:36He belongs to the West Bengal.

22:38This false narrative of sub-nationalism and nationalism,

22:42conflict of sub-nationalism, this is a narrative by leftist bankrupt people.

22:46They want to create an artificial divide.

22:49Bengal is always in the leadership position of national movement.

22:53So, Mr. Pradhan, would you say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah

22:58have achieved what nobody in the BJP could for years?

23:03This is the land of Shama Prasad Mukherjee, the Jansang founder.

23:07You have achieved his dream.

23:09Certainly, no.

23:10It's a very, it's a very, it's a very, it's a very, it's a very, it's a very, it's a

23:13very activist.

23:15We have a plan, we have an idea, we have an understanding of the society.

23:19Let me remind you, what happened in 1905?

23:23The Bangalore has divided and this was a division due to some cultural, social background.

23:31Some people want to create, divide the society.

23:35Shama Prasad Mukherjee fought, forgo his life to the unity of this country.

23:41What was his idea?

23:43Unified India.

23:44In the past Lok Sabha, Janashanga was represented from West Bengal.

23:49Due to the left part, due to different political scenarios, we couldn't do that.

23:54But the BJP, the nationalistic parties, we are very proud that this is not only the

24:00mere victory of a state, the victory of ideas, the victory of Indianism, the victory of nationalism.

24:07West Bengal, remember, remained a political enigma for decades.

24:11One that was never easy to understand or break.

24:14But Home Minister Amit Shah not only understood this myth, but also dismantled it.

24:18With his insights and strategy.

24:21And the share or credit for this victory, of course, will go to Amit Shah's strategy as well.

24:26This time, Amit Shah stayed in Bengal for 15 days.

24:30He conducted night stays across five different zones in the state and held organizational meetings till late night.

24:37He carried out more than 50 election programs in West Bengal, including 30 public rallies,

24:4212 road shows, 12 road shows, meetings and press conferences.

24:46The BJP divided Bengal organizationally into 43 districts.

24:50Out of these 43 districts, Amit Shah covered 42 organizational districts.

24:55He stayed overnight in five different zones and held meetings till 1 to 2 AM.

25:00Even though the desired results were not achieved in the last election in 2021, he reworked the strategy.

25:07And that's what this number certainly means.

25:10From a packed stage in Dum Dum, he laid out the entire blueprint of May 4th before the public and

25:18had said that counting would begin on the morning of 4th.

25:21Ballot boxes would start opening at 8 AM.

25:24The first round at 9 AM.

25:26The second round at 10.

25:27And counting would end by one.

25:30And didi, ta-ta, goodbye.

25:31That's what he had said.

25:32Those statements almost proving like a prediction.

25:38Prophetic, many would say.

25:40In reality, Bengal's victory is a strategic success because every step taken to win the election was part of a

25:46plan.

25:47When the election commission began the SIR process in Bengal, the entire BJP organization got to work to ensure that

25:55no fake voter remained in the state so that the opposition could not benefit.

26:00Under the directions of Home Minister Amit Shah, a special strategy was implemented.

26:08During voting under which the BJP's effort was to ensure that its supporters reached polling booths and cast their votes

26:16by 11 AM.

26:18Amit Shah assured his supporters of security at every level in Bengal.

26:22And on the day of the first phase, he himself was present in the BJP control room.

26:27He clearly...

26:28In fact, we are now being joined by Leander Pes.

26:31I'll ask...

26:34I'll ask Aastha and others to connect me.

26:37But before that, let's look at Home Minister Amit Shah's strategy in a little more detail.

26:43He clearly warned elements trying to disturb the political atmosphere as saying that the goons should not step out of

26:50their homes otherwise they would be hung upside down and set straight.

26:54He also said that the infiltrators who had been nurtured by Didi would be identified and driven out.

27:01These statements certainly instilled confidence among the people of Bengal.

27:08Let me bring in Leander Pes, whose entry into the BJP happened in the month of March.

27:16And many would see it as, you know, perhaps good news for the party.

27:22Leander Pes, India's perhaps most decorated doubles tennis champion.

27:29And you have proven lucky for the BJP.

27:33Namaste, Maria. Good evening. Pleasure to be with you.

27:36And our lotus is blooming very well tonight in West Bengal.

27:41I've got to give a big shout out to all our workers in the BJP, to all the Karivartans, to

27:48Karia Kartas,

27:50to the people who have gone out there tirelessly over the last years and years to really work hard for

27:59the people.

28:00As you can see, it's been a long day today. It's been a long month.

28:04I've been here for the last five weeks working really hard throughout the country.

28:09And I've got to give a big shout out to our leadership, to Sri Narendra Modi ji, on how he

28:16led us as a leader.

28:17The hours and the dedication that he has for our countrymen, for our people, for our tiranga is really special.

28:25I'm very blessed to have this opportunity to join the BJP party.

28:29Very blessed to serve under the leadership as Sri Narendra Modi ji.

28:34And I'm really energized to empower 500 million kids throughout the next 20 years through sports and education.

28:42And Leanda, it's fascinating that you have made your formal entry into politics just a few weeks ago.

28:50And in these few weeks, you have also seen perhaps the biggest ever political victory for the BJP, the party

28:58that you joined.

28:59So how are you sensing or absorbing this massive ideological victory for the party?

29:07It's a wonderful learning in the last five weeks.

29:12I've been to places in West Bengal that I haven't visited in 50 years.

29:17I've gone down to the grassroots.

29:20One location, 1,80,000 people, all wanting to be heard, all wanting empowerment to live a better life.

29:28Next location, 2,50,000 people, all wanting to create a better future for their children.

29:34To me, our leader, Sri Narendra Modi ji, is focused exactly on that.

29:39I call them the four E's, Maria.

29:42Education, employment, entrepreneurship, empowerment.

29:47Exactly in that order.

29:48And that's what we at the BJP and all of us, Karyakarthas, are working for, is to empower Mother India

29:56and make it a superpower.

29:58How has your five weeks in Bengal been?

30:02You know, I tried to get in touch with you when I was in Kolkata, you know, covering elections on

30:07ground.

30:07And I was told that you have high demand and there are a lot of leaders and candidates of the

30:13BJP asking for some scheduling to be done for your public meetings.

30:19You know, the BJP outfit is such a professional outfit.

30:22It's such a treat to work with.

30:24The professionalism, the teamwork, the leadership, the hierarchy, it's just wonderful to work with.

30:31As you've known my career for 40 years in global sport, I work well with teams.

30:36I built some great partnerships with Navratilova, with Mahesh, with Martina Hingis, won 20 Grand Slams, played seven Olympics.

30:44But this honor to work for 1.5 billion Indians all throughout the country is, as a son of the

30:54soil, very humbling.

30:55It's very energizing.

30:57In the last five weeks, I've worked with our leadership, been guided by them, learnt the ropes of politics because

31:03I'm new in that.

31:04But I'm very, very interested in governance, in being the change we'd like to see.

31:10With our leadership with Sri Narendra Modi ji, I was in Kerala.

31:14I spent days there meeting people on the ground, going into markets, sitting with them and drinking cups of chai

31:22and listening to them, learning from them.

31:24Here in West Bengal, a city in Calcutta, where I was born and brought up, where my passion is as

31:30well.

31:30I learned my sport in the Maidan here.

31:33In that, it reminded me of my late Baba, who gave me the vision before he passed.

31:39He said that Sri Narendra Modi ji is a great leader.

31:44Through him, empower 745 million children and make their lives for them.

31:51Use your shoulders to make their lives.

31:54I live every day for India.

31:57I have for the last 40 years and I will continue till every breath I have in my body.

32:01Under the leadership of Sri Narendra Modi ji, to empower Mother India and make us a superpower.

32:07And God willing, one day, bring the Olympics to us back in India.

32:11Today, your city of Kolkata has changed completely.

32:16You know, it has been painted saffron like no other way.

32:22What has changed?

32:23How is it looking different today?

32:25The leadership has changed.

32:27The power is with the people.

32:30Today, West Bengal did not just whisper.

32:34West Bengal roared.

32:36They roared because they felt the power of the BJP and our team coming in.

32:40They felt the leadership of Sri Narendra Modi ji when he said that every child and every woman can walk

32:47in the streets at 11pm and 12am at midnight and feel safe.

32:52When Amit Shah ji said that we will get rid of all the goons in this state and we will

32:59bring in law and order to make the people feel safe.

33:03The people already wanted a change.

33:06But the BJP and our team have worked tremendously hard to get to the people and get them to see

33:13that we are interested in governance, in empowerment, in bringing business and trade back to West Bengal.

33:20At one point of time, West Bengal added to 30% of the GDP of Mother India.

33:26In the last 15 years, that has declined so much.

33:31At one point, West Bengal was the leader in education in India.

33:36Today, our youth are leaving the country, are leaving the state, going to Patna and Bangalore and Pune for education

33:44and further studies, higher studies.

33:47We as a team at BJP want to empower our youth all across the country and for me personally in

33:53West Bengal to bring West Bengal and make it shine like it used to.

33:58To make West Bengal the great West Bengal that it was in the past.

34:03To use the Sports Authority of India Stadium here at Salt Lake and educate our children through sports education.

34:11So that just like myself and just like my Baba, we can have athletes who win for India in the

34:17Olympics in the world stage and bring it back home to Bengal.

34:21For every girl child that's out there, to make her feel safe, to make her feel empowered, that she can

34:27be a leader of our country.

34:29To me, Sri Narendra Modi ji is the path. He is the way. He is the man who's not just

34:36the captain of my team, but he's the leader of Mother India.

34:39He's made India the fourth largest economy in the world in the last 13 years.

34:45I guarantee you that through Sri Narendra Modi ji's leadership, West Bengal will be an example state.

34:51We are a border state also. So to close that border down, to make sure that illegal immigrants do not

34:57jump that border and create havoc all across India from West Bengal.

35:02To make sure the next time Lionel Messi comes into Calcutta, that we showcase ourselves well.

35:08Next time great athletes or great sporting events like the Commonwealth Games come to Ahmedabad, we showcase ourselves well.

35:16My dream is that India as a superpower.

35:20You have certainly plans and a lot of noble thoughts there. So I wish you all the best.

35:25We'll certainly stay in touch, Leander Pez, from winning Grand Slams to taking a new innings in public life.

35:32And look what you, many would say, you know, it's the luck that you bring to the party that may

35:39have worked also.

35:40So thank you so much for joining us here on India today.

35:43Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

35:46Perilam has emerged as a face saver for the Congress party.

35:49The UDF has won 99 out of 140 seats, storming back to power in God's own country.

35:57But one key question still looms for the grand old party, who will be the chief minister?

36:02The Congress went into the election without projecting a chief ministerial face.

36:06And now the decision on who takes the top most pose.

36:11Among the front runners is VD Satishan, who orchestrated the party's victory in Kerala.

36:16I spoke to him earlier today. Listen.

36:20And let me get you the biggest voice now from Kerala, VD Satishan is the leader of opposition, the face

36:28of UDF, a five-time MLA from Paravur.

36:32He's joining me live. Congratulations.

36:36From 41 to 100 plus in 2021, Mr. Satishan, the UDF was reduced to 41.

36:43This time you consistently predicted, I must tell you and compliment you, of a hundred-plus seat.

36:50It has been achieved.

36:52What were the concrete political, organizational and narrative shifts that you think that made this turnaround possible, sir?

37:05Thank you very much for the compliment.

37:09When I took over as a leader of opposition in 2021, our situation was very vulnerable.

37:17Two consecutive defeat was there.

37:19And the workers and leaders were demoralized.

37:24Then we made a political analysis.

37:26In 2001, we won 99 seats.

37:32In 2004, we lost almost all the parliament seats.

37:36In 19 seats, we lost out of 20 seats.

37:39In 2005 onwards, many social groups left from the UDF side.

37:47Even though we won in 2011, we got only 72 seats.

37:53They got 68 seats.

37:55In 2016, the defeat was very bad.

38:03And in 2021, it was repeated after 2016.

38:09So we made a political analysis.

38:13And we started to work.

38:16That was a silent work.

38:19We brought back all the social groups.

38:21I think 90% of the social groups.

38:26The groups which left from our side to either BJP or CPM side.

38:33Then second thing, we started to improve our organizational setup.

38:38Then third, the electioneering.

38:42I think for a political party, it's an election-oriented politics.

38:49It's very important.

38:50So electioneering is an art.

38:53It's a professional thing.

38:55So electioneering is important for a political party.

38:58Then we started to work in various by-elections in the assemblies.

39:05You know that across the country, the opposition are losing the by-elections.

39:10That's right.

39:11But we won with wonderful margins in various by-elections.

39:15Then after parliament, then parliament election, we worked hard.

39:20We got 18 out of 20.

39:22Then, you know, in Kerala, the local body election is also very important.

39:27Paka political.

39:29We got a wonderful victory, which is the largest in the last 30 years.

39:35Then we, before one year, we started work for the assembly election.

39:44Inside an assembly, we have been trying to expose the government.

39:50We have been criticizing the government.

39:52But at the same time, wherever the government failed,

39:58maybe the first opposition in the country, we started to work.

40:02Two years back, we started to work in various departments,

40:07especially health, education, infrastructure, and finance.

40:11We appointed commissions inside.

40:16Then we conducted conclaves, health conclave, education conclave, many things.

40:21Then we prepared documents.

40:23And I have conducted a yatra before the election from Northern Kerala to Southern Kerala.

40:30Usually, all the opposition parties are saying politics only.

40:35But we said politics only 25%.

40:3775%.

40:3875% we spoke about the future Kerala.

40:43Okay.

40:43You know, you have made a very fascinating point.

40:44Wherever the government failed, we have alternatives.

40:47You have given a very fascinating journey under your leadership.

40:52And interestingly, Mr. Satishan, after the 2021 loss, you have mentioned the confidence placed in you by the Congress leadership.

41:01Do you think it was important for the party to rebuild?

41:05Did you rebuild the morale and credibility?

41:09That distance had to be traveled with the voters of Kerala.

41:16Correct.

41:17What you said is correct.

41:19100% correct.

41:20We had to build the morale.

41:23And the organization set up also.

41:26Organization.

41:27Confidence to the bottom-level workers.

41:30We have constituted booth committees across the state.

41:35Then we conducted camps.

41:39And we enrolled the voters at the micro-level social engineering.

41:46We have done the state-level social engineering.

41:49And we insisted for a micro-level social engineering at every panchayat and every assembly segments.

41:57We have given confidence to them.

42:01Then we prepared for the election.

42:04Then there was an anti-incumbency.

42:06Yes.

42:07Anti-incumbency is a negative factor.

42:09At the same time, there was a positive factor.

42:12That we are talking about the future Kerala.

42:15We are talking about the youngsters, their future.

42:20Brain drain is, for example, brain drain is happening in Kerala.

42:24How can we prevent the brain drain?

42:27Then we conducted the education conclave.

42:30I spoke to the people that we will introduce a global job watchtower.

42:36That means, the nature of jobs have been changing.

42:42So, there should be a team to observe.

42:46What are the changes in the jobs?

42:49Then they will observe.

42:50Corresponding to that, the curriculum, restructure the curriculum.

42:56New courses will be started.

42:59Then they will get jobs.

43:02We have wonderful ideas in health, education, infrastructure everywhere.

43:07Okay.

43:08You know, since you are speaking about health infrastructure, now is the time when UDF has to get ready for

43:16its new role.

43:18And perhaps, given that you have been the face of the Congress party in this election, you could very well

43:24be the next Chief Minister.

43:26What are the biggest administrative and financial challenges, according to you?

43:35For the Chief Ministership, you know that Congress is a national party,

43:39AACC is having a procedure to select the Chief Minister.

43:43I hope that they will start that procedure tomorrow onwards.

43:48When it is completed, there will be a Chief Minister.

43:51But UDF has a plan.

43:53UDF has a plan.

43:54For example, we have seaside, Arabian Sea, 600 kilometers.

44:00We have two international seaports and one container terminal and 17 mini ports.

44:07We have a plan for coastal shipping.

44:10First, logistics.

44:12Second, cruise shipping.

44:13Third, we will integrate all the backwater rivers to this project.

44:20Then our dream is that make Kerala into a poor city.

44:24Okay.

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