The BJP has been trying to play down its poll campaign slogan ever since it came to power and party chief Amit Shah on Monday gave it a fairly long horizon.
"Achhe din aane mein 25 saal lagenge (It will take 25 years to bring achhe din)," BJP president Amit Shah was quoted as saying at a Bhopal event by a newspaper.
The report quoted the BJP president as saying that when read in the broader perspective 'acche din' meant restoring the pride that India enjoyed before the British era and that a five-year tenure wasn't enough to ensure that same glory.
Latching onto it, Congress leader Digvijay Shah took a dig at Shah, saying his good days had arrived and people can forget about theirs.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted, "Would people have voted for BJP had it told them that it will take 25 years for good days to arrive".
However, as the opposition attacked the BJP over the statement the party claimed that the report was "baseless".
"Shah said the BJP government had curbed corruption and brought down inflation.It is working to end corruption and create many jobs in five years. But the dream of making India 'Vishwa guru (world leader) will take 25 years to realise," BJP secretary and media cell in-charge Shrikant Sharma said.
Sharma, however, said Shah made the remarks in the context of restoring India its ancient glory and claimed the report was "part of conspiracy to defame BJP".
"India used to be a world leader.And our president said it will take 25 years to restore India its ancient glory and status of world leader again," he said. Shah never said the BJP government will take 25 years to bring 'achhe din'.
"It is a baseless report and part of larger conspiracy to defame BJP," he alleged.
While the debate over what Amit Shah said and meant may not be over, the clarifications over 'acche din' have been coming for some time now.
"The notion of good times though is dependent on governance and delivery without leakages but this is hugely subjective, shaped by a variety of factors. A mature society and electorate weighs delivery of goods against intentions and the state's perceived ability to work in transparent manner for welfare of people," Singh had noted.