BJP is the pole of hope, says Advani

The remarks came at the beginning of the BJP's national executive meet.

Urging colleagues to learn lessons from last year's shock defeat, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief LK Advani on Tuesday counselled his party to move ahead along with partners to reclaim power.

HT Image

In his presidential address at the start of a day-long national executive meet, Advani gave a call for strengthening the BJP ideologically, politically and organisationally, describing it as the "Pole of Hope" in India's bipolar polity.

"When I say that we should resolve to strengthen the BJP, it is not aimed merely at enabling our party to perform better in democratic pursuit of power," Advani told about 100 members of the national executive at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.

"Rather, it is meant to remind ourselves that the likely threats to democracy, national security and India's unity and integrity can be effectively countered only if the forces of nationalism and the forces of democracy become stronger."

Advani, who took the reins of a dejected BJP in October, underscored this as the call of the silver jubilee of the party and urged the ranks to resolve to act accordingly.

The meeting precedes a special session of the national council on Wednesday to kick off the silver jubilee celebrations.