NEW DELHI: India’s Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi choked, paused and fought back tears at his acceptance speech on Tuesday after deputies of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the National Democratic Alliance unanimously named him their leader in parliament.

Mr Modi later met President Pranab Mukherjee at the British-built Presidential Palace who nominated him as the next prime minister and set May 26 for the swearing-in.

When senior leader L.K. Advani introduced Mr Modi as the man of the moment to his party and the NDA, he too broke down.

Mr Modi told the deputies that the election results represented a new hope for the common man, and dedicated his government for the uplift of the poor, oppressed and deprived.

“I accept the responsibility you have reposed in me. You will never get an opportunity to look down on what my government will do,” he said in a 30-minute speech.

The election took place at the Central Hall of Parliament after his name was proposed by Mr Advani and seconded among others by Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari.

“A new hope has arisen in the common man. This is the biggest significance of the election results. At the end of the day, who is the government for? It is for the poor.

“The new government will dedicate itself for the poor, crores and crores of youth, and for the safety and security of the mothers and sisters, those in the rural areas, and the oppressed and the deprived,” Mr Modi said.

Referring to the nature of the people’s verdict, he said if it had been a hung or fractured one, then one could say that people had vented their anger against the government and that it was anti-establishment.

“By giving BJP an absolute majority, they have voted for hope and trust. People have voted for hope and faith, and I will do everything to fulfil their aspirations,” he said, adding that he was a man full of optimism.

Recollecting an earlier speech, he said his government’s motto would be “with everyone and for everyone’s development. This is the time for new hope and strength”. Mr Modi said that in 2019 he would meet the MPs again with a report card.

The PM-to-be also took the opportunity to praise the work of the past governments, saying every government and its leaders had contributed to the welfare of the country and he would carry forward whatever good they had done.

Mr Modi broke down when he referred to Mr Advani’s mention that he had done favour to the party by taking up the responsibility.

“Can serving the mother be a favour? A son is only dedicated to serve the mother....The favour has been done by the party,” he said.

Mr Modi is seen as the most far right politician who has made it to India’s top job till today. And he may face his first ideological challenge on May 27, a day after taking office when Jawaharlal Nehru’s death anniversary is observed with solemnity by leaders cutting across party lines though he is disliked by votaries of Hindutva.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2014