"Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference! Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer a couple of questions. Well done!" he wrote on the micro-blogging website.
At a rare press conference as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took no questions but expressed confidence about coming back to power with increased majority.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has often criticised Modi for not addressing media during his tenure, was quick in taking a jibe over the media interaction at the BJP headquarters called at the end of Lok Sabha campaign.
"I am a disciplined soldier. In our party, the president is everything," Modi said directing questions put to him to party president Amit Shah after a reporter enquired if she can ask the Prime Minister something.
As Shah kept replying to questions, another reporter sought to put a supplementary to Modi. Shah shot back to the reporter saying the question has been answered and the prime minister need not answer queries on everything.
Soon after the media interaction was over, Gandhi took a dig at the Prime Minister in a tweet.
"Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference! Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer a couple of questions. Well done!" he wrote on the micro-blogging website.
1. PM terms Lok Sabha election 'spectacular'
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At the presser, Modi termed the Lok Sabha elections a "spectacular" and "positive exercise".
"In my opinion, our full majority government will return to power, such a thing will happen after a long time in the country. It will happen after a long time in the country," Modi said.
On the contrary, on being asked about his projection of results Rahul said that the public will decide the future course of May 23.
Elections to 59 parliamentary constituencies will be held on May 19 in the seventh and last round of national polls. Counting of votes for all 543 seats will take place on May 23.
2. PM Modi diverts questions
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Modi diverted questions, saying he will not answer because the press conference is being addressed by Shah, and in BJP's system, discipline has to be followed.
"We are disciplined soldiers of the party. The party president is everything for us," Modi said.
On the BJP's performance, Modi said,"the election has been amazing (shandar). Elections were held in a positive spirit. A government with full majority will come back after remaining in power for five years . This is probably happening after a very long time. This is a big deal in itself." "The public has decided on the next government. We have promised many things in our manifesto to take the country forward. As soon as possible, the new government will take charge and we will take decisions one after another," Modi added.
He said India should impress the world with its diversity and democracy.
3. 'This is world's largest democracy'
"I believe some things we can proudly say to the world. This is the world's largest democracy, it is our responsibility to take the power of this democracy to the world. We should impress the world with the diversity of the democracy," he said.
He said there was a time when Indian Premier League had to be shifted out of India due to polls, but under the current government, elections can be held even when the Ramzan was being observed and Easter commemorated.
The prime minister said, during the campaigning, he told people that "I have come to thank you for your blessings....The country has always been with us. So in a way the campaigning was a way of saying thank you to the people. Even today, I am here to thank you and thank them through you." Modi said work to fulfil promises made in BJP's manifesto will be started as soon as the party comes to power.
"We ensured last-mile delivery which was a new structure of governance...Our government will take up its responsibility as soon as possible," he added.
The prime minister said the journey for an honest government started on May 17, 2014, a day after Lok Sabha election results were announced.
"Election results came on May 16, 2014 and a huge casualty took place on May 17, 2014. Today is also May 17. People in 'Satta bazaar' who bet for Congress to win in elections faced huge losses on May 17," he added.
