'First Election Of My Life When...': PM Modi Breaks Down As He Remembers Late Mother | Times Now Exclusive

times now exclusive: pm narendra modi breaks down as he remembers late mother heeraben: first election of my life when

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi choked back tears as he remembered his mother during an exclusive interview with Times Group Editor-In-Chief Navika Kumar amid his hectic electoral campaign for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections. Heeraben Modi passed away last year. She was 100. “This is the first election of my life when I will go to file nomination without touching my mother’s feet,” PM Modi said.

“But a feeling also comes to mind that today, in a country of 140 crore Indians, millions of mothers (PM chokes with emotion) the way they have loved me, blessed me (Prime Minister gets emotional). By remembering them and then there is Ma Ganga,” he said taking long pauses in between.

This is the first time since 2002 that PM Modi will contest the election in the absence of his mother.

During the interview, PM Modi also shared two vows his mother made him take when he was chosen by BJP to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

“When I went to Gujarat (to be the CM) after working for the BJP at the national level, it gave my mother immense joy. That day she told me – dekh bhai, promise me you will work for the welfare of the poor and secondly, never take a bribe,” he recalled in the interview.

PM Modi has often said that he was inspired by the sacrifices made by his mother. Her struggle, PM Modi stated often, inspired him to come up with welfare schemes aimed at women and the poor.

Heeraben Modi used to live with PM Modi’s younger brother, Pankaj Modi, at Raysan village on the outskirts of Gandhinagar city.

Despite his position, no member of PM Modi’s family lived in the official residence of the prime minister. Heeraben has however visited him a few times at his official residence and pictures released by his office showed the prime minister taking her around in a wheelchair around the complex.

Despite her advance age, Heeraben was active till the end.

In 2016, Heeraben made news after pictures of her posing in front of an ATM in support of PM Modi decision to implement demonetisation went viral on social media. She was also in the news after receiving the COVID-19 vaccinations.

She was seen standing in a queue outside an ATM post-demonetisation. These gestures also sent out a message of her support for the prime minister.

PM Modi’s Lok Sabha Campaigns So Far

PM Modi has covered extensive ground from Jammu in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south in his relentless efforts to secure a resounding victory, epitomized by the slogan ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar’, envisioning a 400-seat triumph.

In his election campaigns, he covered contentious issues, igniting intense debates between the ruling party and the Opposition. Discussions revolve around topics like reservation for Muslims, wealth redistribution, inheritance tax, and women’s safety.

The prime minister said the manifesto of the opposition reflects Muslim League’s thinking. He also alleged that the INDIA bloc has an eye on the people’s property.

Amid the political heat, a recent sex tape scandal involving a prominent JDS leader, a key BJP ally in Karnataka, has further put the BJP on the backfoot. With HD Revanna in custody and his son Prajwal Revanna evading authorities in Germany, the situation remains volatile in the state.

PM Modi’s impassioned addresses on these subjects have triggered strong reactions from the Opposition, prompting numerous complaints and calls for action.

Nevertheless, undeterred by the challenges, PM Modi remains focused on his vision for ‘New India’ which resonates with the BJP’s philosophy of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas”. He aims to elevate India to the status of the third-most developed country during his third term and aspires to send an Indian astronaut to the moon by 2040.

The general elections are being conducted in seven phases over six weeks from April 19 to June 1.

A third of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats have completed polling in the two phases of the Lok Sabha elections till now.

Phase 3 of voting is scheduled for May 7, followed by phase 4 on May 13, phase 5 on May 20, phase 6 on May 25, and phase 7 on June 1.