Ahmedabad, Apr 9- BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani said that he sensed over confidence among party cadres and warned them that this could lead the same situation which resulted in the defeat of NDA in 2004 general elections. “After the defeat of the NDA in 2004 I was asked several times what was the reason behind it. The one reason I could give is that it was over confidence among party workers,” Advani said while addressing partymen here tonight.
“The party workers were over confident due to the good work done by the BJP-led government at the Centre especially the Golden Quadrilateral and the Prime Minister rural road scheme projects,” Advani said.“Today I see the same over confidence amongst party workers. This might end up making same mistakes which we did in 2004,” he added.
“Four weeks ago, I was asked in an interview why do you think BJP will win in 2009, one reason I gave was that there was no over-confidence among party cadre this time. “This is what I had said four weeks ago. But today I won’t say that. Today I am sensing over confidence, which has seeped in the last four weeks,” the BJP leader said, adding that “I don’t blame you for that. Even I am surprised at this development.” He said that after the interview he was on election campaign in Maharashtra and Karnataka, where he addressed rallies in lesser known areas like Pandharpur, Sehwag, Delguri and Satara.
“All the meetings with party workers in those areas were bigger than the BJP-Shiv Sena meeting in Shivaji Park in Mumbai,” Advani said, adding that it gave him the confidence to think that the nation has decided to vote NDA to power.“But, I just want to warn you that don’t be under any false illusion. But at the same time there should not be decrease in the confidence,” Advani told the gathering.
“BJP should be the one to take India to the top. Victory for BJP is victory for India,” he added. Advani also urged booth workers to ensure that there is a higher turnout on the day of election in the Gandhinagar constituency.
“The micro management of the booth should be organised in such a manner that there is at least 60 per cent voting on the polling day. Last time in 2004 it was only 43 per cent,” he said.Advani also urged the party workers to ensure that maximum number of women and first time voters cast their votes on April 30.
He asked them to identify people in the constituency who are educated and well off but do not vote.
“Try and bring them for voting. That would be a great help,” Advani added.
L K Advani
