PM Modi engages BJP leaders more closely, meets new team

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped up his direct engagement with BJP's organisational machinery, holding an extended interaction with the party's newly appointed national office-bearers, signalling a more hands-on role ahead of crucial state elections next year.

The broader objective is to make the BJP more receptive, rooted and connected to people across social and generational divides, and its leaders humble with ears on the ground, people aware of the interactions said.

Modi first held a freewheeling interaction with all 67 newly appointed office-bearers and asked them to share their introduction and experiences, the interaction continued till around midnight on Saturday.


Many feel this exercise could be crucial in deciding the role and work allocation to office-bearers in the coming days.

It came after BJP president Nitin Nabin chaired the first meeting of the new national team earlier in the day.

On Sunday, Nabin followed it up with a wider organisational review attended by state unit presidents, state in-charges and other senior functionaries to fine-tune preparations for the assembly elections due next year, including in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

During the interaction, Modi drew upon his own organisational journey, telling the office-bearers, "I was once where you are today." Having spent years working in the party organisation before entering electoral politics, he underlined the importance of organisational work in shaping political leadership and urged them to remain grounded, deepen grassroots engagement and strengthen the BJP's connect, particularly with the youth.

Sources said in these interactions prevailing political landscape also came up and the emphasis was on need for calibrated language, measured messaging and a political narrative that projects BJP as a responsive organisation with appeal across regions, castes, demographics and generations, rather than one seen as focused only on electoral power.

Party insiders viewed Modi's decision to personally meet every office-bearer as a sign of his growing involvement in organisational affairs ahead of an election cycle that includes politically pivotal contests in seven states.

The BJP currently governs all the poll-bound states except Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.