State president PVN Madhav traces party's 75-year ideological journey from Jana Sangh to global political force; reaffirms Viksit Bharat 2047 as BJP's defining goal

VIJAYAWADA : Invoking seven decades of sacrifice, struggle, and nation-building, Andhra Pradesh BJP state president PVN Madhav on Monday delivered a sweeping account of the Bharatiya Janata Party's ideological and political journey as the party marked its 47th Foundation Day with celebrations held across the state, with the principal function taking place here.

Extending greetings to party workers, leaders, and citizens at large, Mr. Madhav opened his address with an unusual reflection on the significance of the number 47, describing it in the spiritual tradition as a number associated with transformation and selfless endeavour. "Just as those who work without expectation of reward are guided by this number, the BJP has been a force for transformative change in the nation's history," he said.

From Jana Sangh to BJP: A 75-Year Ideological Continuum

Tracing the party's lineage, Mr. Madhav recalled that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded on October 21, 1951, and reconstituted as the Bharatiya Janata Party on April 6, 1980. He said the 75-year journey had been defined by a consistent commitment to national reconstruction, cultural preservation, and the assertion of India's civilisational identity.

He paid tribute to party founder Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, whose sacrifice during the 'Chalo Kashmir' movement for the territorial integrity of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, remained an indelible chapter in India's political history. He noted that leaders such as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had subsequently expanded the party's reach across the country, building it into a national force.

Emergency, Kargil and the Vajpayee Era

Mr. Madhav recalled that Jana Sangh workers had waged an unrelenting 19-month struggle against the Emergency imposed in 1975, with thousands imprisoned and others continuing the fight underground. "They gave the country a second freedom struggle," he said. He also highlighted the party's role during the Goa liberation movement and the wars of 1962 and 1965, when workers rendered service to the nation.

Turning to the Vajpayee era, Mr. Madhav said the BJP government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee had steered India towards strength through the Pokhran nuclear tests, victory in the Kargil conflict, and path-breaking diplomatic initiatives such as the Lahore bus yatra. "Vajpayee remains the gold standard of good governance," he said.

Modi Era: Security, Diplomacy and Development

Describing the BJP's return to power in 2014 under Narendra Modi as a defining moment, Mr. Madhav highlighted a series of landmark decisions including the abrogation of Article 370, the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the expansion of welfare schemes, rural development initiatives, and the Digital India programme.

On national security, he said India had demonstrated its resolve through surgical strikes and air strikes following the Uri and Pulwama attacks. He added that India's standing on the international stage had risen considerably, with the country maintaining balanced diplomatic relations with Iran, Israel, the United States, and Russia simultaneously.

Viksit Bharat 2047: The Defining Mission

Articulating the party's forward vision, Mr. Madhav said the BJP was committed to realising the goal of a fully developed India by 2047 — the centenary of independence — under the guiding principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas. He called upon every citizen to become a participant in this national endeavour.

On the party's organisational agenda in Andhra Pradesh, he said special programmes had been taken up to expand the BJP's presence to the village level, with the 'Mana Illu Mana Jenda' initiative encouraging every worker to hoist the party flag at their home and build awareness among the people. He reaffirmed the party's commitment to strengthening its role within the alliance government in keeping with the aspirations of the people.

Summing up the party's philosophy, Mr. Madhav declared: "Politics is not our profession — it is our mission." He called upon workers to draw inspiration from the sacrifices of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and dedicate themselves to nation-building and social upliftment.

The function was attended by state general secretary Matta Prasad, state secretary Boddu Nagalakshmi, state office in-charge Uppalapati Srinivasa Raju, Kisan Morcha president Chigurpati Kumar Swamy, SC Morcha president Panatala Suresh, Minority Morcha president Syed Basha, NTR district president Adduri Sriram, and other senior functionaries.

State president PVN Madhav reaffirms party's ideological moorings in Upadhyaya and Mookerjee; calls on cadre to strengthen organisation from booth to village level

GUNTUR : The Bharatiya Janata Party observed its 47th Foundation Day with a solemn and spirited function at the district party headquarters 'Vajpayee Bhavan' here on Monday, with state president PVN Madhav reaffirming the party's foundational commitment to national service and the principle of Antyodaya — ensuring justice for the last person in the social order.

The event, organised under the chairmanship of district president Cherukuri Tirupati Rao, saw Mr. Madhav formally unfurl the party flag before addressing a gathering of workers and leaders drawn from across the district.

Tracing the BJP's journey since its founding on April 6, 1980, Mr. Madhav said the party had evolved not merely as a political organisation but as a force dedicated to the service of the nation. "The BJP has always stood apart — guided not by electoral arithmetic alone but by the philosophy of Nation First and the welfare of the people," he said. He added that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the country was advancing rapidly towards the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' — a developed India by 2047.

Mr. Madhav attributed the BJP's rise to become the world's largest political party to the spirit of service and sacrifice demonstrated by its cadre at every level. He called upon workers to further consolidate the party's organisational presence from the village to the booth level, describing each worker as a foundational pillar of the party's strength.

Underlining the party's ideological continuity, Mr. Madhav said the BJP drew its direction from the thoughts and principles of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. He reiterated that the concept of Antyodaya — uplifting the weakest and most marginalised sections of society — remained at the core of the party's mission and governance philosophy.

District president Cherukuri Tirupati Rao, addressing the gathering, pledged to work with renewed commitment towards strengthening the party across every village and booth in Guntur district. He said workers must immerse themselves in the lives of the people, address their problems proactively, and take personal responsibility for ensuring that Central government schemes reached every citizen. He added that the BJP would play a pivotal role in fulfilling the aspirations of the people under the alliance government.

The function was attended by Kisan Morcha state president Chigurpati Kumar Swamy, SC Morcha state president Panatala Suresh, Minority Morcha state president Syed Basha, and senior leaders including Kothuru Venkata Subba Rao, Yadlapati Swaroopa Rani, Bhimineni Chandrasekhar, Bajrang Ramakrishna, Dasu Satyanarayana, Palапати Ravi Kumar, and a large number of district morcha presidents and mandal presidents.

The proceedings concluded on a high note with workers raising spirited chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' as party flags were hoisted across the venue.

BJP State president PVN Madhav reaffirms commitment to 'Antyodaya' as guiding principle for governance and cadre

VIJAYAWADA: The Bharatiya Janata Party observed its Foundation Day on Monday with a solemn tribute to its ideological forebears at the Indoor Stadium here, where party leaders garlanded the statue of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and offered floral tributes in a ceremonial function that drew senior functionaries from across the state unit.

State BJP president PVN Madhav, who presided over the event, performed pushparchana and lit lamps before the statue, underscoring the party's reverence for Upadhyaya's philosophy of integral humanism.

Addressing party workers on the occasion, Mr. Madhav said the sacrifices of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Syama Prasad Mookerjee in the cause of nation-building remained an enduring source of inspiration for the party and its cadre. "Their thoughts and ideology continue to serve as the lodestar for the BJP," he said.

He reiterated the party's abiding commitment to the principle of Antyodaya — the upliftment of the last person in the social order — describing it as the philosophical cornerstone that guided the BJP's approach to governance and public service. Mr. Madhav urged party workers to internalise Upadhyaya's humanistic worldview and translate it into tangible service at the grassroots level.

State general secretary Nagothu Ramesh Naidu, also addressing the gathering, emphasised that it was the responsibility of every party worker to carry the BJP's ideological message to the village level. He called upon cadre to actively disseminate the welfare schemes being implemented by the Central government among the people and to work with renewed vigour towards organisational consolidation.

The function was attended by SC Morcha state president Panatala Suresh, Minority Morcha state president Syed Basha, district president Adduri Sriram, and other senior party functionaries.