NEW DELHI, Jan 17: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday issued a final alert to the BJP workers about the 2024 general elections at the party’s National Executive meet and urged party leaders to increase their outreach to voters.
“We have the 400 days (until the big Lok Sabha elections) and we have to do everything to service the people. We have to create history,” senior BJP leader and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis quoted him as saying in the valedictorian’s session at the two-day meeting.
“PM Modi said we must pay attention to people in the 18-25 age group,” Mr Fadnavis said. “He said they are not familiar with history and the maladministration of previous governments and how we are moving towards sushashan (good governance). We have to make them aware and get them familiar with democratic ways and help them be part of good governance,” he added.
The party should focus on strengthening organization in the villages, including in border areas, and its leaders must “meet people from all walks of life,” Fadnavis said quoting the Prime Minister.
He asked the BJP members to reach out to every section of society, including minorities such as Bohras, Pasmandas and Sikhs, without electoral considerations.
“The BJP is no longer merely a political movement but a social movement as well that is working to transform socio-economic conditions,” Modi had told the 350-odd ministers, leaders and workers attending the session. India’s best era (“Sarvottam Kaal”) is coming and “we should dedicate ourselves to its development,” Modi had said.
On the second day of the two-day National Executive meet, the party also extended JP Nada’s tenure as the party chief till June next year, indicating its preference to maintain continuity as it preps for the nine state elections this year and the general elections in the next year.
(Manas Dasgupta)
