BJP Stands on Its Own Strength in Maharashtra, Says Amit Shah; Urges Cadres to ‘Wipe Out Opposition’ in Local Polls

Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) independent strength in Maharashtra, asserting that the party “doesn’t need crutches” and operates solely on its own merit. Addressing a gathering of BJP workers after laying the foundation stone for the party’s new state headquarters near Churchgate in South Mumbai, Shah delivered a powerful message ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

“The BJP doesn’t run on crutches in Maharashtra — we run on our own strength,” Shah declared, urging the cadre to work tirelessly to ensure that the Opposition “is wiped out so completely that they can’t be seen even with binoculars.”

Highlighting the BJP’s governance model, Shah said that India’s political landscape has shifted from dynasty-driven politics to one based on performance. “We have proven that the politics of family-run parties will no longer work in this country. It is the politics of performance that will lead the nation forward,” he said.

He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the embodiment of merit-based politics, saying, “A child born in a humble tea seller’s home rose, through dedication, sacrifice, and hard work, to become the Prime Minister of India.”

Emphasizing internal democracy, Shah remarked, “A party that cannot uphold democracy within itself can never protect the democracy of the nation.” He added that the BJP’s structure allows hardworking and performance-oriented individuals to rise through the ranks — citing his own journey from a booth president to national president and Modi’s rise from modest beginnings to leading the country.

Calling the party office a “temple,” Shah said it is a place where ideas are born, strategies are developed, and future leaders are trained. “Since the days of the Jan Sangh, ideology-driven politics and people’s welfare have been the hallmark of our party,” he noted, adding that the BJP’s achievements are the result of the hard work and sacrifice of generations of leaders and workers.