Act as bridge between govt, people: Modi to leaders

With Home Minister Rajnath Singh set to step down from the post of the BJP president following his entry into the Union Cabinet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled that he may want a firmer grip on the party.

At a meeting with BJP general secretaries, Modi made clear his expectation from the party, saying he wanted them to act as a bridge between the people and the government. He sought suggestions from them on improving governance and strengthening the party.

Modi and other BJP leaders plan to work on party-government mechanism that would enable him to receive suggestions from common people and party supporters for effective and good governance.

Significantly, Modi’s meeting with the BJP leaders took place at his official residence and not in the party headquarters. Also, this was the first such meeting called by Modi after he took charge as prime minister on May 26.

With senior BJP leaders moving into the government, Modi is keen that the organisational strength of the BJP is not weakened.

Senior BJP leaders said the aim is to keep the party vibrant and not to let the guard down after the emphatic victory in Lok Sabha polls.

As Modi and other BJP leaders are expected to finalise Singh’s successor next week, the prime minister asked the BJP general secretaries to take measures to strengthen the party ahead of Assembly elections in some key states.

Modi wants to ensure that the BJP is prepared for the Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana later this year and Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar next year.

He also wants the BJP to work out a plan to make strong gains in the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry in 2016.

Modi said he would meet more BJP workers and leaders at the BJP headquarters at Ashok Road on Sunday, to strike a chord with them and thank them for their efforts in ensuring the success of the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Inspired by motivational msg from Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, at a meeting with party GSs, to serve party and nation with renewed vigour,” party general secretary Varun Gandhi tweeted after the meeting.