BJP Cancels Dinner Meets for MPs Amid Severe Floods in Punjab and North India
In a show of solidarity with flood victims, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that planned dinner meetings for NDA and BJP MPs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief J.P. Nadda stand cancelled. This decision comes as lakhs of people battle the devastating floods ravaging Punjab and other northern states like Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Sunday, Rijiju explained the reasoning behind the move. "We’re in a tough spot right now with millions suffering from these floods in Punjab and nearby areas. Hosting grand dinners just doesn’t feel right. So, the PM’s dinner for NDA MPs and Nadda’s for BJP MPs are off the table," he said. He stressed that this reflects the party’s strong sense of responsibility during such crises.
But the action doesn’t stop the BJP’s key workshop for MPs in Delhi. Rijiju confirmed it will go on as planned, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the entire session. "This is our party’s culture – no big egos, whether you’re a leader or a regular worker. The PM often sits in the back row, and it’s all about real guidance, not formalities," he added. In fact, during Sunday’s meeting at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium in Parliament, Modi was spotted right there in the last row among all BJP parliamentarians.
Rijiju also assured that NDA allies will join in fully. "Tomorrow, all NDA MPs will be there, and the PM will guide us. We always move ahead based on his advice," he noted. The two-day BJP MPs workshop, which kicked off on Sunday, wraps up on Monday and includes MPs from the entire NDA coalition.
PM Modi’s Key Advice to BJP Leaders on People’s Issues
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a special appearance at the workshop on Sunday, urging BJP leaders to stay connected with the ground realities. He pushed for MPs to hold monthly "tiffin meetings" with locals in every assembly segment of their constituencies. "This way, you can really understand people’s problems in detail," sources quoted him as saying.
Modi also advised leaders to chat with ministers and officials before and after parliamentary committee meetings for better insights. He reminded ministers to "behave properly with officials" to keep things smooth. On the ongoing Swachh Bharat cleanliness drive, the PM shared Singapore’s success story and encouraged innovative ideas to take it further.
This workshop holds extra importance as it ramps up preparations for the high-stakes Vice-Presidential election on September 9. Sources say it features a mock poll to train MPs on the voting process, plus presentations on how the election works for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members. The BJP-led NDA is pulling out all stops to ensure a strong showing.
Vice-Presidential Election: A ‘South vs South’ Contest
The race pits NDA’s candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan, a Tamil Nadu leader with RSS roots, against the opposition’s pick, former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy from Telangana. It’s shaping up as a "South vs South" battle, with both contenders hailing from southern states.
The Vice President gets elected by an electoral college of MPs from both houses of Parliament. This year’s college has 782 members due to some vacant seats – 233 elected and 12 nominated from Rajya Sabha (five seats empty), plus 543 elected from Lok Sabha (one vacant). Voting happens secretly through proportional representation with a single transferable vote.
Opposition parties announced Reddy as their joint candidate on August 19, calling it an "ideological battle" against the NDA. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted its significance. The election became necessary after incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned mid-term for medical reasons. Remember, the Vice President also chairs the Rajya Sabha, making the role a big deal in Indian politics.
As floods continue to disrupt lives in Punjab and northern India, this gesture from the BJP leadership underscores their focus on empathy amid national challenges. Stay tuned for updates on the Vice-Presidential election and relief efforts.
