Modi Meets New BJP Team, Launches Month-Long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the newly appointed national office-bearers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. The meeting, the first between Modi and the new team under party president Nitin Nabin, followed the BJP's organisational overhaul and lasted over five hours, according to sources. As reported by multiple outlets, including ANI and The Economic Times, the Prime Minister advised the office-bearers to stay connected with people and work towards strengthening the organisation, while also listening to each member's views.

In a post on X, Modi described the interaction as one of 'new ideas and perspectives' aimed at strengthening the party and deepening its connect with the public. The meeting also served as the platform to announce and workshop the national 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', a month-long campaign slated to run from September 17 to October 17.

Details of the Meeting and Workshop

The gathering at the BJP headquarters was not just a routine interaction but a structured session. According to sources cited by ANI and The Economic Times, all office-bearers introduced themselves, shared their work experience, and presented their thoughts to the Prime Minister, who also provided guidance to strengthen the party's ideology and serve the nation.

The workshop on the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' was part of the day's activities. As reported by Lokmat Times, it brought together state party presidents, organisation general secretaries, and teams of seven to eleven workers from each state. The objective, as detailed by BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, was to prepare 'extensive preparations' to carry the campaign to the booth level across the country.

Seva Sankalp Abhiyan: Objectives and Activities

The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' will kick off on September 17, coinciding with Prime Minister Modi's birthday, and continue for a month. The campaign marks the completion of his 25 years in public life, a milestone he reached after taking oath as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001. According to Tawde, the campaign aims to 'take the spirit of service associated with PM Modi's public life to every section of society'.

Under the campaign, themed around public outreach, the BJP plans to:

  • Felicitate 14 lakh Anganwadi workers across the country and organise 'Matri Samvad' programmes with them.
  • Run 'Seva Setu Abhiyan' camps for 20 days at block level to enrol people in welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat and PM-KISAN, ensuring no eligible person is deprived.
  • Encourage citizens to create reels showcasing their service through the 'Seva Mein Mera Yogdan' initiative.
  • Organise a 'National Fort', a innovation challenge across block, district, and state levels.

These activities are designed to engage youth, women, and farmers, with Tawde noting that the campaign's initiatives will be many service-related programmes, beneficiary connect with government schemes, and youth involvement in service and innovation.

Vande Mataram Resolution and Congress's Response

The meeting also saw the BJP pass a resolution criticising the Congress Working Committee's recent decision to sing only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram'. The BJP described the song as India's National Song and an 'expression of reverence for Bharat Mata', a symbol of the freedom struggle, and an embodiment of the national consciousness. The party announced a nationwide campaign to highlight the history and significance of the National Song.

Responding to the resolution, the Congress accused the BJP of using nationalism to divert attention from its 'failures'. The Congress's statement was included in reports from ANI, while the BJP's framing was presented as part of the party's own announcement.

Broader Significance and Reactions

Senior BJP figures, including Biplab Kumar Dey, and Smriti Irani and Piyush Goyal among others, were present at the meeting, as listed by The Economic Times. The meeting and the campaign were also marked by PM Modi's own social media account, where he highlighted the organisational meeting as a platform of 'free ideas and perspectives'.

The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' is the latest in a series of activities by the party, which, as noted by Deccan Chronicle, already celebrates a fortnight-long 'Seva Pakhwada' on Modi's birthday each year. This campaign extends the tradition into a month of events aiming to bring the spirit of service to every household.