BJP national executive: Shah reviews performance, PM Modi to speak on Monday

Amit Shah reviewed the performance of the party’s expansion drive in the last one year, where more than four lakh party workers covered the 4,100 state assembly seats to strengthen the party.

BJP president Amit Shah took stock of the party’s performance on Sunday at its national executive meeting that will conclude with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address in which he is expected to counter the opposition’s criticism of the state of the economy.

BJP president Amit Shah arrives to attend the BJP office bearers and national executive meetings in New Delhi on Sunday.(Vipin Kumar /HT PHOTO)

After inaugurating the two-day national executive in New Delhi, Shah held a meeting with office bearers, state chiefs and organisational leaders to finalise agenda items, including resolutions, which the national executive is expected to discuss on September 25, the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

During the office bearers’ meeting, Shah reviewed the performance of the party’s expansion drive in the last one year.

BJP president Amit Shah talks to Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, as national general secretary Ram Lal looks on during the BJP office bearers and national executive meetings in New Delhi on Sunday. (Vipin Kumar /HT PHOTO)

More than four lakh party workers covered the 4,100 state assembly seats to strengthen the party and shared the development measures initiated by the government, party general secretary Bhupender Yadav said.

It was also decided to take forward Prime Minister Modi’s Swachh Bharat mission and the resolve to establish a New India and make them a success, he said.

BJP general secretary Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also shared the details of Shah’s countrywide tour during the meeting and said the party chief travelled 50,000km and interacted with 18,000 workers across the country to strengthen the BJP.

To mark the birth centenary celebrations of Upadhyaya, the party has also dedicated the year to the welfare of the poor and the government has taken various initiatives on this front while curbing corruption, Yadav said.

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari welcomes party president Amit Shah as general secretary Ram Lal looks on during the BJP office bearers and national executive meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. (Vipin Kumar /HT PHOTO)

A key highlight of the meeting will be the presence of the party’s elected lawmakers -- close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from states among others on Monday.

Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address on Monday, may use the opportunity to highlight his government’s pro-poor measures and other policy decisions.

With the opposition parties attacking the government’s handling of the economy by citing the fall in GDP rate and demonetisation figures, Modi is expected to take them on and highlight his dispensation’s “successes” in boosting transparency and curbing black money, party sources said.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi consistently attacked the government over the economy during his visit to the US.

The BJP sources said the party’s resolution is likely to assert that the economy has been doing better under the NDA than it did under the previous UPA government.

The rollout of the GST has been described by the party as a major success of the government which, it has asserted, will integrate the country’s economy.

The Prime Minister’s agenda of development is also expected be a key feature.

A senior party leader said the issue of Rohingya immigrants, whom the government has termed a threat to security, may also find a mention.

With the government and the party embracing Upadhyaya’s plank of ‘antyodaya’ (upliftment of the last man), the executive is expected to cite a number of measures taken by the Union and the BJP-ruled states for the poor’s welfare.