BackNarendra Modi calls for strengthening BJP ahead of 2019 general election
Narendra Modi says BJP has responsibility of reaching out to millennial voters, must promote younger leaders
Premium
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the foundations of the party should be strengthened before the 2019 general elections. The statement comes just days after the BJP won assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. However, the opposition Congress gave a tough fight in Gujarat, where the BJP was down to a double-digit tally for the first time in two decades.
Modi said that the party had the responsibility of reaching out to the millennial voters who would become eligible to vote in 2018. The prime minister told BJP leaders during a parliamentary party meeting that the party should promote younger leaders.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for strengthening the party at its roots across the country," said parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar after the meeting. Kumar said Modi told BJP leaders that strengthening booth-level management was key to winning elections.
Modi also asked BJP leaders not to get affected by what he called a misinformation campaign against the BJP by opposition parties.
The PM’s observation about a misinformation campaign is interesting as Congress leaders have claimed that the party’s electoral performance was a “moral victory" against the BJP government in Gujarat. Modi told BJP leaders that the party’s performance in Himachal and Gujarat was a big win for the party and that it had managed to win a series of elections in the last three years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule at the centre.
“Prime minister said that the work at the booth level was most important, beside people’s blessings to the party, for creating a wave in its favour," Kumar said.
Meanwhile, Parliament, particularly Rajya Sabha, faced disruption for the fourth consecutive working day on Wednesday with the opposition protesting against Modi’s remarks about former prime minister Manmohan Singh during the Gujarat poll campaign.
While campaigning in Gujarat, Modi in an address had accused Manmohan Singh of conspiring with Pakistan to influence the state assembly elections during a meeting with former Pakistani diplomats at the residence of suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar in New Delhi. The opposition, especially Congress, has been demanding an apology from the prime minister.
On Wednesday, the Congress disrupted both Houses of Parliament over the issue, forcing the Rajya Sabha to be adjourned for the day.
In the Lok Sabha, the issue led to protests in the well of the House, forcing two adjournments with the Congress party staging a walkout. Modi was present in the House when the first adjournment in the House happened. However, legislative business was taken up after Congress lawmakers walked out.
Proceedings at the Rajya Sabha were almost washed out. The Upper House saw two adjournments amid protests by Congress members and it was adjourned for the day a little after lunch.
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said there was no question of apology from the prime minister. “Nobody is going to give apology. Nothing happened in the House. No statement is made in the House. There is no practice of suspension of Question Hour. Don’t make a mockery of the House. Already wrong message is going," Naidu told Rajya Sabha members.
Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Congress is not demanding an apology but instead asked that the PM should make his intent behind the statement clear. “We are not demanding an apology...But PM should come to the House and say that he has made such statements to win the elections," Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. “Not even an ordinary MP or a worker can think of joining hands with Pakistan... For the last few days, we have been demanding that the PM should clarify on it... Tomorrow it is his Question Hour... he should clarify."
PTI contributed to this story.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
