People watching us, Modi tells his MLAs

Modi said the people in Gujarat had rejected what he called ‘‘a relentless propaganda against his government from day one.’’ However, he added: ‘‘In democracy there are no enemies, only competitors.’’

‘‘It is easy to win but difficult to digest it. We will have to take extra care to digest it,’’ was Modi’s advice to the party cadre who had turned out in large numbers from across the state.

‘‘The government does not belong only to those who worked for the party’s victory but also to those who opposed us. All the 5 crore Gujaratis enjoy same rights,’’ Modi said. ‘‘Appeasement of none, justice for all,’’ was how he described his new slogan.

The function was a showcase of Gujarat BJP’s confidence in the wake of its overwhelming victory. Also of Modi’s popularity among partymen.

He was showered with rose petals when his name was proposed by senior leader Ashok Bhatt and later when Agrawal endorsed it.

‘‘People are going to watch us very carefully,’’ Modi told the newly elected MLAs, asking them not to hanker after ministerial berths and the trappings of power. There was a stern warning, too, indication of how he will handle people: ‘‘The party decision will be final.’’

Taking a dig at legislators offering him flowers and wishing him well, he said, ‘‘Please don’t bring them to me now, reserve them for when I come seeking you out. People have reposed faith in us, and it is our responsibility and duty to deliver rather than hanker after power.’’

Taking another swipe at the media, he ‘‘warned’’ MLAs not to pay any heed to ‘‘speculation’’ on who will—or who will not—be accommodated in his ministry.

Modi said the party would implement its Sankalp Patra (manifesto) and take the state on the path of siddhi (achievement), samruddhi (prosperity) and salamati (security).

Naidu, in his speech, criticised the Congress for not being to able to come to terms with the massive mandate given by Gujarat to the BJP. Referring to Congress leader Kamal Nath’s statement that the BJP’s win was founded on an atmosphere of terror, he asked: ‘‘How come, then, that so many people came out to vote?’’

‘‘There is no need for an early election. We won’t propose to advance the general elections,’’ Naidu said, adding however that the party was confident of getting 300 seats on its own in the 2004 general elections.

‘‘When we talk of Hindutva, we talk of cultural nationalism,’’ he said, accusing the Congress of playing the Hindu card and trying to take Muslim votes for granted.