File photo of Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh (R).
At a brainstorming session to finalise campaign elements for the Assembly elections in four crucial states and general elections, Narendra Modi today urged the BJP to reach out to all groups across the country, including Muslims.
"In Gujarat around 20-25 per cent Muslims voted for the BJP and we need to reach out to them and other sections of the society in the rest of the country also," Mr Modi said during the meet.
Mr Modi also underscored the need for tapping the young and first time voters who, he said, are restless for a change.
"Modi spoke on how the BJP campaign in the run-up to the elections should be conducted. He emphasised on how it is important to bring the voter to the polling booth and said the party workers should meet this challenge. He also said there is a need to strengthen the support base and increase it further," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
Mr Modi, the BJP's election campaign chief, along with party president Rajnath Singh took stock of how the 20 star studded election committees set up by the party last month are functioning.
"Modi asked the committees to do in depth and comprehensive planning," Mr Javadekar said.
The heads of the party's state units were also present at today's strategy session - being called a mini-national executive of the party - to offer their suggestions. The Bihar unit had yesterday asked the party to formally name Mr Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for 2014.
Today, Mr Singh asked the BJP state units to not pass resolutions recommending that Mr Modi be declared the PM candidate. He also told BJP chief in Bihar, Sushil Modi, that state units should leave the decision on the PM candidate for the parliamentary board to decide.
The BJP expects Assembly elections, due by the end of this year, to be notified by the third week of September and, sources said, Mr Modi is keen that all the elements of campaign and coordination be worked out by then. The party is also expected to announce by then that the Gujarat Chief Minister will be its presumptive PM, in an attempt to cash in on his popularity in the state elections too.