BJP National Executive Meeting Begins Today
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to counter critics of the government’s economic policies and address worries over jobs and a slowdown in economic growth when he speaks at a meeting of the BJP’s national executive at Delhi’s Talkatora stadium this evening.
About 2,500 members of the ruling party, including 13 Chief Ministers and all its elected lawmakers – 1,400 legislators and 280 parliamentarians – are attending today’s meet, Day 2 of the national executive.
The party’s national office bearers, including its President Amit Shah, state chiefs and other key organisational leaders, will 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.
Even some of the Sangh’s economic fronts have announced a protest in November to flag the BJP-led government’s failures. “The BJP has completed 3.5 years. It was felt important to reflect upon what all has been achieved and what more needs to be done. Some policies have worked, some will show returns later but the mood of the nation and the party should remain upbeat,” said the BJP’s Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari, who is organising today’s event.
Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address tomorrow, 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 has consistently attacked the government over economy during his visit to the US.
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.Roll-out of the GST has been described by the party as a major success of the government which, it has asserted, will integrate the country economy.
The BJP’s national executive is usually a closed-door meeting attended by about 120 top leaders. Today’s meeting, however, is being called an “extended” National Executive as the party wraps up year-long celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of its founder Deendayal Upadhyaya.
It is also for the first time that the BJP’s legislators and lawmakers have been invited for the meet. The Prime Minister’s agenda of development will be a key feature. The PM’s address is also expected to provide broad guidelines on how the party can revitalise its connect with the people.
A political resolution will be adopted with a road map for crucial state elections ahead and then the 2019 national election, party sources said. Strategy for elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year is expected to be discussed.
