Euphoric welcome for Modi; BJP foresees change in Delhi too

New Delhi, Dec 29 (UNI) After his emphatic triumph in the Gujarat Assembly elections, Chief Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a stormy welcome by BJP workers and supporters on his arrival at the IGI Airport here this morning.

As soon as Mr Modi arrived, hundreds of party workers and supporters who had gathered here went into a feeding frenzy and greeted him with garlands and beating of drums. Police had a tough time controlling the workers and supporters who jostled with each other to reach out to Mr Modi.

Talking to UNI on the occasion, Delhi BJP President Harsh Vardhan said the victory of the party in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections would have definite fallout in the Delhi Assembly elections in 2008.

'' The people of Delhi have already shown the door to the Congress in the MCD Elections held six months ago which has boosted the morale of party cadres. It has also demoralised the already demoralised Congress cadres,'' he said.

He said the Dikshit Government was not at all sympathetic to the cause of the people and the Chief Minister had been siding with the power companies, shedding no tears for the people. The government has already installed 25 lakh electricity meters in the Capital which were 748 per cent faster than the regular meters, he said.

'' After running the government for nine years, the CM is now promising nine lakh houses for the jhuggi-jhopri dwellers. I want to ask her, has she built even a single house during her rule of nine years. Today, she is promising the moon and the stars to the poor.'' Dr Vardhan said Delhiites have already made up its mind to remove the ruling government. When asked who would do a Narendra Modi in the Delhi Assembly elections, he said, ''it's not about any particular leader, the whole party will act as Mr Modi to win the elections. Even in Gujarat, it was not just Mr Modi but actually the thousands of party workers who worked together which resulted in the victory. It will be done in a similar manner in Delhi also. '' Asked about the rapturous welcome accorded to Mr Modi, which was never seen before with any other leader, Dr Vardhan said the party had not broken any tradition. Mr Modi stood as one of the most popular leaders in the country and it was his dynamism which prompted the people to see him.

Dr Vardhan, however, did not divulge the schedule of Mr Modi's visit to the national capital.

Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi was also present on the occasion.

UNI