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Narendra Modi was unanimously elected as the leader of BJP Parliamentary Party today with the Prime Minister-designate saying the election result was a vote for "new hope and aspiration" and he would try his best to live up to the expectations of the people of the country.
During his acceptance speech, 63-year-old Modi broke down when he referred to L K 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 addressing the newly-elected MPs of the party in the historic Central Hall of Parliament.
His name was proposed by party patriarch L K Advani and supported by a number of leaders, including Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari.
The election is an imporant formality before Modi approaches President Pranab Mukherjee for formation of his government.
Advani said Modi was a "popular" and "famous" leader and he was happy to propose his name. Joshi seconded the proposal with a sense of "pride" and "joy". Swaraj hoped that Modi will be a "famous" Prime Minister.
After the election, Modi said the recent election result had increased people's faith in democracy and there is a "new hope" among people that this dispensation can fulfill their aspirations.
Committing his government to all sections of the society, particularly the youth, women and poor, he said, "I want to assure the people of the country that there is no need for pessimism going by the past bad experience...I am a very optimistic man and only an optimistic man can bring optimism in the country."
"I will try to live up to expectations of people," he said and promised to present report card to people in 2019.
