After a massive of Bharatiya Janata Party in Lok Sabha elections, several members and supporters of the Overseas Friends of BJP (United Kingdom) came together at the century-old Indian Gymkhana in west London on Thursday to celebrate the election victory.
The place reverberated with slogans in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The President of OFBJP (UK) Kuldip Singh Shekhawat, recalled their role in BJP’s election campaign.
From holding car rallies with Modi’s image in various towns across the UK to making hundreds of thousands of calls from a call center in London to friends and family members in India, the role of UK-based supporters included 2,000 volunteers traveling to India at their own expense to help in the campaign.
Shekhawat, who was part of several campaign events in India, said: “The volunteers spent their own money to help in the campaign mainly in constituencies in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala”.
“From homes and a call center, our people made a large number of calls under the ‘ek call desh ke nam’ program. Getting a call from London, asking people to support Modi, made a difference to many, and added to the perception of Modi’s ‘jalwa’ (reputation) abroad”.
Virendra Sharma, senior Labour Member of Parliament and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on India, said India-UK relations can only grow further under Modi since he understood the importance of the diaspora and has already made two visits to London as prime minister.
Sharma said: “The election result is the victory of the Indian voter. There was a lack of leadership in the opposition. There was no single identifiable consensus leader among the opposition parties, neither was there a common agenda”.
“Besides, a major factor is the success of Modi’s communication strategy – through social media, radio, apps – to convey to the common man that he is an accessible prime minister, never mind the reality. His travels abroad also had a positive impact on people’s minds.”
London-based industrialist Swaraj Paul hailed the election results, adding that the scale of the election showed the common man’s commitment to democracy that made Indians abroad proud.
The entrepreneur and member of House of Lords Karan Bilimoria said that BJP’s win brings stability and assurance of the focus on continued economic growth for the Indian economy.
He said: “Prime Minister Modi has a clear vision for India’s future and in spite of some setbacks in his first term, he took several bold steps, including introducing GST and increasing spending on infrastructure in five years multifold. Although economic growth has slowed, it is still relatively high at around 7 percent”.
“Prime Minister Modi has also gone the extra mile in traveling around the world and increasing India’s reach and image globally. As India continues on its path to becoming a global economic superpower, having a strong dynamic, articulate and visionary leader, who has really made a mark on the global stage, will help India fulfill its destiny”.
Senior Conservative MP Bob Blackman added: “My heartfelt congratulations to Narendra Modi on the occasion of his victory in the Indian general election and my congratulations to the BJP on being elected to govern for another term.
“For the BJP to win such a vast number of seats sends a very clear message that the people of India trust the party to deliver on its election pledges and promises.
“Beyond the size of the majority now commanded by the BJP, this result is a decisive verdict on the support enjoyed by Narendra Modi across the nation of India. His first term provided prosperity, security and a major uplift in social conditions and let us look forward to him delivering on these three fronts – and many more – in the next few years.
“The BJP is the natural allies of the Conservative and Unionist Party and I am positive about the ever blossoming relationship between our two great nation states.
“India has been strengthened both domestically and abroad under Modi’s premiership and I look forward to his new term – Jai Hind!.”
