New Delhi, March 12 (PTI): A day after the massive poll victories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appeared to be setting his sights beyond the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as he asked the countrymen to join him in building a new India by 2022.
He asked the people to take a pledge and express their commitment to building a new India on his Narendra Modi Mobile App.
A new India is emerging, which is being powered by the strength & skills of 125 crore Indians. This India stands for development, Modi tweeted.
When we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022, we should have made an India that will make Gandhi Ji, Sardar Patel & Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar proud, he added.
In a statement on his website Narendramodi.in, the Prime Minister said, Together, let us build the India of our dreams so that when we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022, we have an India that will make Gandhiji, Sardar Patel and Babasaheb Ambedkar proud.
He said, India is transforming, powered by the strength of each and every citizen of India; an India that is driven by innovation, hard work and creativity; an India characterized by peace, unity and brotherhood; and an India free from corruption, terrorism, black money and dirt.
He also listed out a set of pledges which he wanted the countrymen to take.
Modi wanted the countrymen to pledge that they stand for a corruption-free India, that they will undertake cashless transactions, that they will dedicatedly work towards a Swachh Bharat , that they will ensure a drugs-free India.
The Prime Minister also wanted the people to pledge that they will support and encourage women-led development, that they extend complete support to an accessible India , that they will stand for an India of peace, unity and harmony and that they will be job creators, not job seekers.
Amarinder elected as CLP leader; swearing-in on March 16
The Congress, which swept the Punjab assembly elections, on Sunday formally elected Amarinder Singh as the head of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). Amarinder later met Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore and stalked claim to form the next government in the state.
"We have staked claim to form the next government. The swearing in will take place on March 16," Amarinder told media after his meeting with the Governor.
This is the second time that Amarinder will become Chief Minister of the state. He had remained Chief Minister from 2002-2007.
Amarinder said that a few cabinet members will also take oath of office along with him, but did not give any details.
The newly elected Congress legislators met here on Sunday to elect the CLP leader. (IANS)
BJP stakes claim to Goa government with Parrikar as CM
In a swift move, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, led by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, met Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Sunday and staked claim to forming a new government in the coastal state.
Even as Parrikar knocked on the gates of Raj Bhavan, newly-elected Congress MLAs as well as senior central leaders, including General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, were holed up in a city hotel, deliberating for hours over finalisation of the party's legislative party leader.
The BJP contingent of 13 MLAs was led by Parrikar and was accompanied by three legislators each of the Goa Forward party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and two Independent legislators, which takes the tally of BJP-aligned legislators to 21.
The BJP has also claimed the support of Nationalist Congress Party MLA from Benaulim Churchill Alemao, stating that his letter of support would be also be sent to the Governor soon.
Talking to reporters after the meeting with the Governor, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was in-charge of negotiating with non-Congress MLAs for alliance formation, said the BJP would form a stable government in Goa.
Meanwhile, the Congress which was expected to stake claim to forming the government on Sunday evening, has been unable to finalise its legislative leader, with the candidature of state unit President Luizinho Faleiro being resisted by his peers, namely former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and Digambar Kamat.
While the Congress, which had fixed an appointment with the Governor for 6 p.m., remained embroiled in finalisation of the CLP leader, the BJP, which was expected to stake claim for government formation on Monday, ended up cobbling together the support of 21 MLAs, before submitting their letters of support to the Governor late on Sunday.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah will take the final call on the names of new Chief Ministers for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur after central observers, being sent to the states, hold meetings with local MLAs, it was announced on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the party's Parliamentary Board here, Union Minister J.P. Nadda said BJP leaders M. Venkaiah Naidu and Bhupendra Yadav will go to Uttar Pradesh as observers.
Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and party leader Saroj Pandey have been named observers for Uttarakhand.
Power Minister Piyush Goyal and National Vice President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe have been sent as observers to Manipur.
"We will hold the meetings soon after Holi," Nadda said.
"Party President Amit Shah has been tasked to decide the Chief Ministers from the party in all the states after seeing the reports that the observers send," he said.
The BJP Parliamentary Board also passed a resolution condemning Saturday's attack on CRPF personnel that left 12 troopers dead in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. (IANS)
