Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sought to reassure newly aligned MPs from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Shiv Sena (UBT), telling them not to worry about criticism over their political realignment as he met them during a breakfast interaction in New Delhi.
According to sources, Modi told the lawmakers, "Don't worry about what is being said about you. No need to worry, I am with you," in a message aimed at integrating the former Opposition MPs into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as Parliament's Monsoon Session continues.
Around 45 MPs attended the meeting, including former TMC lawmakers who recently joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), former Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MPs who crossed over to the Eknath Shinde faction, National People's Party (NPP) MPs and representatives from the NCP led by Ajit Pawar.
During the interaction, Modi urged MPs from West Bengal to strengthen public outreach and expand their engagement on social media. According to participants, each MP was given a report on their digital engagement, with the Prime Minister encouraging them to connect more effectively with people.
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Emphasising the importance of West Bengal's development, Modi said the state's progress was closely linked to India's growth, while also stressing the need for improved connectivity and development in the northeastern states.
The Prime Minister also advised the MPs to undergo annual physical and mental health check-ups, saying public representatives needed to remain fit to meet growing responsibilities.
The meeting also witnessed lighter moments. Matcha tea served during breakfast sparked a brief discussion after BJP MP Shatabdi Roy explained the beverage to the Prime Minister and noted that it was available in West Bengal as well. Senior MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay also drew laughter by remarking that Modi was surrounded by several actor-turned-politicians and would need to stay fit to keep pace with them.
Sources said Modi also addressed the former Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs in Marathi and personally reached out to the rebel TMC lawmakers, seeking to ease concerns over possible disqualification proceedings and political backlash in their constituencies.
The outreach comes as the BJP works to strengthen the NDA's numbers in Parliament, with an eye on securing broader support for key legislative and constitutional measures expected in the coming months.
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