MANGALURU: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi literally has his hands full in dealing with WHO certified global pandemic. Yet this has not stopped the PM from calling up party
seniors who gave their youth and time and roughed out the political storm to ensure that
BJP is a political force that it is today. Modi in these series of calls is not only enquiring about their
health but also seeking their blessings and ideas for better governance of the country.
Tweets by state BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel revealed this facet of PMs working in which he said Modi had called up Ram Bhat in Dakshina
Kannada and D H Shankar Murthy, former chairman of the state legislative council. Ram Bhat with incumbent CM BS Yediyurappa were the only two MLAs that BJP had when the former was elected for the first time from Puttur,
underscoring his seniority and contribution to the party, Nalin told TOI.
Describing this facet of the PM as a culture that RSS taught its rank and file in his tweet, Nalin said BJP never forgets its seniors even in the worst of times. “PM has been calling seniors who were jailed during the Emergency, MLAs like Ram Bhat who have a unique role in party’s history and is seeking their blessings,” Nalin said, adding this personal touch that PM sends a rejuvenating message to the party cadre that their sacrifice is not forgotten.
Nalin said the PM surmised from Ram Bhat’s voice that he was keeping good health and in good spirits. An elated Shankar Murthy told TOI that his 2-minute odd chat with PM left him pleasantly surprised. “PM calling a karyakarta in these times is not a joke,” he said. The talk centered on my personal health, how I am spending time at home and a little bit about the pandemic also. It was a general talk and coming from the PM meant a lot, he noted.