Modi asks party workers to innovate, modernise political outreach

For a moment Narendra Modi Saturday shed his prime ministerial garb and donned the more familiar role of a BJP organising secretary exhorting party workers to innovate and modernise political outreach.

Addressing a meeting of over 8000 workers at the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee indoor stadium on the outskirts of Panaji, Modi exhorted the Goa unit of the BJP to become the most tech savvy political outfit in the country.

"Looking at you and the arrangements you have made, I recall my days as the organising secretary in the party. Sometimes I cannot help that. There is so much you can do in Goa," Modi said.

A tip Modi gave to the party cadres was to start an online membership drive. "Out there somewhere is a person who wants to reach out to us, but he does not know how to. Use technology to reach out to him," Modi said.

He also said the party should have all the details of all primary members of the party online as a comprehensive database.

Modi said special efforts must be made to politically evangelise youngsters from the age of 12 to 18 by organising debates and discussions, so that they could be engaged with and later tapped for electoral dividend during the next election.

"Engage with them for five years. And what will you get after five years?...." Modi said, following up with his trademark pause, which was filled with cries of agreement from the excited crowd.

He said to tap international tourism, party members in Goa must look beyond government schemes and use social media to engage with potential international tourists.

"Everyone should reach out to 25 people from 25 countries across the world. Tell them about Goa and how beautiful it is. Engage with them, invite them to Goa," Modi said.

Modi was in Goa on the invitation of the Indian Navy for a Day out at Sea on board the INS Vikramaditya which was anchored off Goa.