New Delhi: The BJP campaigning for the MCD polls focusing on the image and achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded today with the party hoping to return back to rule the civic bodies third time in a row.
Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, who indulged in extensive campaigning in different parts of the city, said he witnessed “anger” against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal but “enthusiasm” among people for Prime Minister Modi’s scheme and was assured of victory in the elections.
Tiwari concluded campaigning by offering a special prayer at Kalkaji temple in south Delhi.
“During campaigning for the MCD polls, I interacted with lakhs of people and saw anger in their eyes against Kejriwal for obstructing development in Delhi. People showed great enthusiasm, however, for the programmes and schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
The BJP campaign for the elections was divided into four phases. The first phase was devoted to reaching out to the youth.
It was followed by the second phase which focused on attacking the AAP and the Congress while the third phase comprised of highlighting achievements of the Modi government and the three municipal corporations ruled by the party, said party’s Campaign and Publicity Committee chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal.
The fourth and the last phase was devoted solely to tell how the party wanted to go about changing Delhi into the prime minister’s dream city, he said.
The BJP based its election campaign for the MCD on the issues of development but the opposition parties tried to “divert” the campaign towards “negative” issues, said Shyam Jaju, party’s national vice president and incharge of Delhi.
“Due to questions raised by the opposition parties on the impartiality of EVMs and sometime against the Election Commission this election became a contest between the BJP symbolising development and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-Congress representing negative thinking,” Jaju said.
While several Union ministers including Rajnath Singh, J P Nadda, Harsh Vardhan held public meetings during the campaigning, the party held around 3,300 street meetings to reach out to the voters.
“Nearly 2,000 street plays, special spots on FM channels, advertisements on television channels, besides door-to-door contacts wer part of the campaigning by the party,” said campaign committee member Ashok Goel.
—PTI