PM Narendra Modi holds meeting with MPs ahead of Gujarat polls

NEW DELHI: Ahead of assembly elections in Gujarat this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a meeting with MPs from his home state and asked them to work overtime as public servants to fulfil people's expectations.

Besides MPs from Gujarat, parliamentarians from Goa, Rajasthan, Daman & Diu and Andaman & Nicobar islands were also present in the informal meeting with Modi over breakfast at his residence here.

"Modiji asked MPs to work overtime to fulfil expectations of the people and told them to make people aware about various initiatives taken by the Centre for public welfare," said an MP who was present at the meeting.

Later in a statement, the BJP said that the Prime Minister has requested MPs to use digital platforms for doing transactions and also connect with social media to reach out to the people.

He also told MPs that they should spread the message among people about the Centre's welfare schemes.

MPs also apprised the Prime Minister about development works in their respective constituencies.

During the course of the meeting, the MPs also expressed their gratitude towards Modi and party president Amit Shah for the BJP's stunning victory in the recent UP and Uttarakhand Assembly polls.

Besides Modi, senior party leader L K Advani, Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar were also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, Shah informed the MPs about Centre's decision to set up a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NCSEBC), a constitutional body for welfare and addressing the grievances of backward classes.

Terming it as a landmark decision, Shah said this commission will lead to substantial improvement in lives of people from backward classes.

Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who is party MP from Gujarat, also attended the meeting.

The meeting assumes significance, as BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 19 years and is keen to retain its bastion.

The party, which currently has 123 seats, has announced "Mission 150" - winning at least 150 of the state's 182 assembly constituencies.