Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked BJP workers to reach out to the common man and work as a "bridge of faith," said senior party leader Bhupendra Yadav after the party's national executive meeting.

During his address at the concluding session, the prime minister also highlighted that the BJP is in its pre-eminent position only because it has always been connected with the common man since its inception.

Modi further dubbed service of masses as the highest form of worship. ‘‘The BJP isn't run by a family…Instead it is sustained by the values of ‘sewa, sanklap aur samparan’ (service, resolution and commitment)," he said.

Referring to the "selfless service" of the BJP cadres during the pandemic, PM Modi said that a "new culture of service has been perpetuated by the 'karyakartas' under party chief JP Nadda".

Before the PM’s address, party presidents of five poll-bound states presented a report about their poll preparedness with the Punjab unit chief underscoring that they were confident of contesting all the 117 seats. The BJP is without an ally in the border state and needs to quell the unrest among farmers who are demanding repeal of three farm laws.

That UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has an important role to play in the BJP’s future scheme of things was obvious when he was asked to table the political resolution at the executive; it is an indication that PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are backing him to the hilt.

Asked about the decision to pick Adityanath, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman retorted, "Why not", while praising his work as chief minister and noting that he heads India's largest state.

Asked if there was any reference to the recent by-election results, which have been a mixed bag for the party, Sitharaman said there was no specific discussion on them.

The political resolution praised PM Modi's leadership and accused the opposition of "opportunism" and acting with a ‘‘petty’’ mind set of "extreme hate.’’ It slammed the Opposition for criticizing and spreading rumours regarding the vaccination drive and not reducing VAT on fuel in states ruled by them, after the Centre did so earlier this week. The party’s top leaders charged the opposition had stayed indoors when the pandemic was raging rather than helping the people.

The National Executive put out an unambiguous message that the party must showcase the 100 crore-plus vaccinations and free ration scheme for 80 crore people as big achievements in the upcoming elections.

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