BJP a party for the poor: Amit Shah

The BJP is now moving ahead as a party for the poor, said Amit Shah who was ratified as the party president Saturday.

Addressing the BJP national council meet here, Shah said that during the general elections, the poor felt that the "BJP is their party (and) a tea seller (Narendra Modi) is going to be the prime minister".

"We got support from the poor," he said at the day-long meet being held at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

"Hum garibon ki party ke roop me badh rahein hain. (We are moving ahead as the party for the poor)," said Amit Shah who succeeded Rajnath Singh as the party president.

Amit Shah, who was in-charge of the party in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP bagged 71 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats, said he was entrusted the task due to his capability.

Shah said the Bharatiya Janata Party has a rich tradition of grassroot work and family background has never been a consideration for leadership.

"Many of us have seen pictures of a leader no less than Atal ji serving food to the delegates at party conventions. For decades, it was Advani ji who used undertake the thankless job of documentation of party papers. From Kushbhau Thakare to Nitin Gadkari, all have risen to the top from the grassroots," he said.

"The rise of Narendra Modi to the highest position in our democracy, beginning as a grassroot organiser and belonging to an economically backward family, is also in keeping with this tradition," he added.

He recalled that he began his career as an "ordinary worker in a booth committee".

And said that him becoming the party president is an ode to "part workers' institution".

Amit Shah said that BJP can bring "sushasan" (good governance) and bring the country out of "kushasan" (poor governance).

Shah also asked the party workers to gear up for the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra.

He hoped that the party will win elections in these states with full majority.

Shah also said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi a "strong foundation" of good governance has been laid in 75 days.

He also credited the party's impressive performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections to Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.