Win for real social justice, rejection of Oppn lies: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) emphatic win in Maharashtra was the victory of "good governance" and "real social justice"; a rejection of "the forces of deception, divisiveness and dynastic politics"; and showed that the people have faith only in the BJP to deliver "vikas" (development) while celebrating the country's "virasat" (heritage).

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran

The PM, who lashed out at the Congress for trying to "mislead" the country, also referred to the slogan "Ek hain toh safe hain" (if we are united, we are safe) as the nation's new "maha mantra" (clarion call).

"After Haryana, the biggest message of Maharashtra elections is unity. Ek hain to safe hain - this has become the maha mantra of the country today," Modi said in his address at the party headquarters amid chants and cheers after he was welcomed following the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's massive triumph.

The slogan, which was perceived as the BJP's counter to the Opposition's demand for a caste census, became a rallying point for the BJP and its ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, to push for the consolidation of the Hindu vote bank.

The PM hailed the clear mandate in Maharashtra as evidence of people rejecting "instability" and supporting the BJP's "development agenda", and said it will redouble efforts to serve people in Jharkhand where the BJP faced a drubbing.

The BJP-led NDA, which won 235 seats in Maharashtra could win only 21 of the 81 seats in Jharkhand, where INDIA bloc led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) retained power. But Modi said his party will work even harder for the development of Jharkhand in light of this verdict.