2014 was Bharatiya Janata Party's battle, 2019 polls are Bharatiya Janata's fight, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is confident about his return to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. He feels that BJP will not only win this crucial election but also better its 2014 performance. In an interview to Times of India, PM Modi said that he is also a ‘challenger’ in these elections. He said that he is challenging dynasty politics, terrorism and such negative force that are affecting India’s growth story. On the SP-BSP alliance, PM Modi said that the voters of Uttar Pradesh are very intelligent and they understand what is the reason of such parties coming together. On those accusing him of fanning hyper-nationalism, PM Modi said that ‘deshbhakti is not disease.’ In fact, he alleged that ‘hyper-secularism’ was created to attack roots of India.   

Earlier in the day, addressing a rally in Karnataka’s Chikkodi, PM Modi slammed the Congress and said that the Grand Old Party was trying to install "helpless" prime minister. He made a forceful plea for people's mandate for a strong government, focusing on national security. Addressing two rallies in north Karnataka on the final lap of his campaign for Lok Sabha polls in the state, Modi mocked the "never ending drama" marked by revenge and emotion that he said characterised the Congress-JDS coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy.

In the 2014 polls, BJP had bagged 17 seats. Modi has held back to back rallies covering all the regions in Karnataka and the state BJP has not announced any more rallies before the second phase of polls on April 23. Speaking about the "natak" (drama) by leaders that was going in Karnataka, he said the drama had emotion and revenge, and "the emotion is never ending."