Why Were NDA Dinner Meetings Cancelled in Solidarity with Flood Victims?

New Delhi, Sep 7 (NationPress) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Sunday that the previously scheduled dinner meetings for NDA MPs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president J.P. Nadda have been cancelled to show solidarity with millions affected by the devastating floods in Punjab and various regions of northern India.

“We are currently experiencing a highly sensitive situation, as countless individuals are suffering due to floods in Punjab and other northern states. In light of this, organizing dinner events is not appropriate. Therefore, the dinner hosted by our esteemed Prime Minister for NDA MPs has been called off. Similarly, the dinner planned by J.P. Nadda for BJP MPs has also been cancelled,” Rijiju stated while speaking to IANS.

He emphasized that this decision reflects the leadership’s sense of responsibility.

“During such severe flooding, holding grand dinners is not suitable,” he remarked.

Rijiju clarified that the BJP’s ongoing workshop for its MPs in Delhi would proceed, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating from beginning to end.

“This embodies the BJP’s culture—whether a leader or a common worker, everyone is treated equally. There is no formal seating arrangement, and the Prime Minister often sits in the back row. Our program focuses more on guidance than on formality,” he added.

His comments followed PM Modi’s appearance in the last row during Sunday’s meeting attended by all BJP parliamentarians.

Regarding the participation of NDA allies in the Prime Minister’s session, Rijiju confirmed their attendance.

“Tomorrow, all NDA MPs will also attend. Naturally, the Prime Minister will guide us, and we will proceed after listening to him,” he said.

The BJP workshop, which began on Sunday, will wrap up on Monday with the involvement of MPs from across the NDA.

Prime Minister Modi attended a two-day BJP MPs workshop at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament complex on Sunday, urging leaders to understand the issues facing the populace by engaging with them consistently.

Sources indicate that PM Modi advised leaders to conduct a tiffin meeting with constituents in every Assembly segment of their Parliamentary constituency once a month to gain a detailed understanding of the challenges faced by the people.

Moreover, the Prime Minister encouraged leaders to meet with relevant ministers and officials before and after Parliamentary committee meetings to gain better insights into the topics at hand and stressed the need for ministers to treat officials with respect.

In discussing the cleanliness campaign, he cited Singapore as an example and urged leaders to think creatively and pursue innovative solutions.

This pivotal two-day meeting precedes the high-stakes Vice-Presidential elections set for September 9.

According to sources, the workshop includes a mock poll to prepare MPs for the voting process.

The BJP-led NDA has ramped up its preparations for the Vice-Presidential election, leaving no stone unturned, and this two-day workshop is expected to feature a presentation enlightening both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs about the electoral process.

This year’s Vice-Presidential election is viewed as a 'South vs South' contest, with NDA candidate C.P. Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu (who has a longstanding association with RSS) facing off against opposition candidate B. Sudarshan Reddy from Telangana (a former Supreme Court judge). The Vice President is elected by an electoral college of members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The 2025 electoral college comprises 788 members, including 233 elected members (currently five seats are vacant in the upper house) and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha, along with 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha (with one seat vacant in the lower house). There are presently 782 members in the electoral college due to these vacant seats.

The election is conducted through a secret ballot using a system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote.

Former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy was declared the united Opposition parties’ candidate for the Vice-Presidential election on August 19—an endeavor described by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as an “ideological battle.”

The Vice-Presidential election became necessary following the mid-term resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who vacated the position for health reasons.

The Vice President also serves as the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, adding to the political significance of the role.