Government formation over and the specific agendas for ministers and bureaucrats laid out, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s next focus is on reshaping the BJP. For most of the newly appointed ministers, the first weekend in power was an unexpected reprieve before the intense work schedule of 12 to 14 hours a day starts, understanding issues, delivering fast and prime performance. They had flown back to their constituencies to spend time with family and friends, attend felicitation ceremonies and engage with their constituencies, but for Modi, it was business as usual. At 10 am on Saturday, he called a meeting of party general secretaries at his official residence, 7, Race Course Road. In the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh—who would quit as party chief as soon as a new replacement is in place—the Prime Minister told the BJP’s second rung leaders that the war may have been won but battle has just begun.
REBOOTING THE SYSTEM
During the previous UPA regime, the government and the Congress party were distinct entities. As usual, the unconventional Modi is rewriting that script. He has told BJP leaders to improve the interface between the party, the government and the people, a strategy Amit Shah had put into practice, which yielded a bounteous harvest in Uttar Pradesh. Modi has insisted that partymen should now immediately focus on the Assembly elections in the seven states of Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam scheduled in the next three years. Not known to take a break even on Sunday, the inexhaustible Modi is expected to drive down to party headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road to interact with the cadre. His first visit to the BJP office after becoming Prime Minister will be the signal that his hold over the party is close to being complete.
“Saturday’s meeting was meant to gather feedback from us. The Prime Minister revealed how he is trying to rebuild the confidence of the bureaucracy that had been affected by paralysis under the UPA. He is holding 72-hour workshops for them. He has asked us to work towards winning the six Assembly elections due in next few years,” a party general secretary told The Sunday Standard. Present were general secretaries J P Nadda, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Amit Shah, Ram Lal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Murlidhar Rao and Rajeev Pratap Rudy.