Winning Over Poor at the Heart of Meeting of BJP CMs

New Delhi: Winning over the poor was at the heart of Saturday's meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministers with the party forming a committee to finalise a "garib kalyan agenda" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking them to work in "mission mode" to make their states a model for execution of his government's schemes, mostly aimed at benefiting the poor.

Modi exhorted them to work on multiple fronts to develop their states at a fast rate, saying they should not just move to one project after finishing another and instead take up several programmes together without showing any lapse.

Chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand-- Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Devendra Fadnavis, Raghubar Das respectively-- besides party vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe will prepare the poor's welfare agenda that will fix a few common goals for the party-ruled states besides identifying schemes which they could give special focus.

The day-long meeting deliberated over six subjects, including welfare of the poor and farmers, woman empowerment, youth and employment besides good governance, with Modi speaking about a host of schemes covering these sectors.

"The Prime Minister asked us to work in mission mode; to take up several works at once and show no lapses. Then we can develop fast," Chouhan told a press conference after the conclusion of the meeting.

With the party and its governments facing attack from the opposition over issues concerning Dalits and minorities, it believes that a stronger emphasis on welfare schemes, especially targeting the poor, can firewall it against adverse political outcome and instead help it reach out to the weaker sections.

Chief ministers also gave a presentation of their government's works in line with the party's welfare agenda and how some of the schemes can be adopted by others.

Party leaders said good governance, development and pro-poor measures were the focus of the exercise and politics and coming elections in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, found no mention in their deliberations.

Modi also touched on the fact that the two medals won by India in the Rio Olympics were claimed by women as he underlined the need for woman empowerment.

"Our daughters have proved how capable they are," he said.