Nationalism is PM poll mantra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday night asked party leaders to focus on the agenda of nationalism in the upcoming Assembly elections as it had helped him secure a record victory in the Lok Sabha elections two years ago.

Pointing out that nationalism is also the core agenda of the Sangh Parivar -- to which all party leaders belong -- he told a meeting of the core groups from the states to propagate his government's achievements in two years on the plank of development ("Vikas")

Sources said the PM also shared his concern over the misconception created by the opposition that the BJP has failed to stand for and protect the weaker sections, specially the Dalits.

"Don't let this misinformation succeed as otherwise it would hit the morale of the BJP workers, since 80% of them come from the scheduled class, scheduled tribes and other backward classes," he said while sharing his concern over atrocities on the Dalits which are often attributed to the BJP.

The day-long closed door meeting of the party's core groups from the states slated for polls, as also from Jammu and Kashmir, discussed the political developments in the country. It was inaugurated by BJP president Amit Shah and attended by many union ministers.

In his inaugural address, Amit Shah said the core groups represent the party's policy of collective leadership and collective decisions. He said the biggest responsibility of the core groups is to strengthen the organisation up to the booth level through collective thinking.

In the second session, the party leaders were told how to use the social media and modern resources to propagate the government's pro-people decisions and expand on the RSS ideology.