Kerala as dear to me as Varanasi, says PM Modi in Guruvayur

Having won a massive mandate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said political parties and pundits failed to gauge the public mood ahead of the Lok Sabha election and thanked the electorate for reposing confidence in the saffron party.

In his first public engagement after leading the BJP to a grand victory in the general election, retaining power for a successive term, Modi said he made Kerala his first stop after the win despite having no MP from the state since it was as dear to him as his constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Terming the just-concluded Lok Sabha election a "festival of democracy," Modi lauded and thanked the electorate of Kerala for their contribution to it.

The country has seen that "people are God" in elections, he said at the 'Abhinandan Sabha' organised by the BJP's Kerala unit.

Earlier, he offered prayers at the famed Lord Krishna temple here.

"Political parties and political pundits could not gauge people's mood. So did those involved in conducting (poll) surveys. But people gave a strong mandate to the BJP," he said and thanked the voters for choosing his party.

The recent polls proved that people rejected "negativity" and accepted positivity, he said.

"The 2019 Lok Sabha elections marked a victory for positivity and a resounding rejection of negativity. With this spirit, let us all work together to build a new India," Modi said.

The prime minister's statement assumes significance in the wake of Congress president Rahul Gandhi reviving his attack on Modi accusing him and the BJP of spreading "hatred and intolerance" in the country.

"Modi might have money. He might have media by his side... He might have rich friends with him but the Congress party will continue to fight against the intolerance created by the BJP," Gandhi had said Friday holding a roadshow in his Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency to thank voters for electing him.

On making Kerala his first stop post the Lok Sabha polls win, Modi said some would have even wondered why he chose the southern state despite the BJP "not opening its account" from here in parliament.

"I come to Kerala with a deep sense of gratitude to the people," the prime minster said, adding "Yes, our party did not win a seat here but I will serve the state with great vigour and deepen the bond with its wonderful citizens."