Raghav Chadha Meets PM Modi, Highlights an Engaging and Enriching Interaction

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Saturday said he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described their interaction as detailed, insightful and enriching. Sharing details of the meeting on X, Chadha expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for taking the time to meet him and for giving him an opportunity to benefit from his experience, insights and guidance.

Chadha said the meeting was an experience he would cherish and described it as a privilege to spend time with Prime Minister Modi. His meeting with the Prime Minister comes soon after he, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, shifted from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking a significant political development.

The interaction also comes against the backdrop of a series of meetings between Prime Minister Modi and MPs from various National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents. On August 7, Modi hosted more than 40 MPs at his official residence in New Delhi for a breakfast meeting. The gathering included lawmakers from parties such as the Shiv Sena, Republican Party of India (Athawale), Rashtriya Lok Morcha, AIADMK and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL). MPs from the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and Shiv Sena factions that recently aligned with NDA partners were also present.

According to MPs who attended the meeting, the functioning of Parliament was among the key issues discussed. The ongoing Monsoon Session has witnessed repeated disruptions, prompting concerns about the limited time available for meaningful debate and discussion. Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare said Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament. She said the Prime Minister interacted with the lawmakers in a warm and informal manner and shared advice on their responsibilities.

Waghmare said Modi expressed concern that repeated disruptions were preventing many talented and newly elected MPs from getting an opportunity to speak and contribute to parliamentary discussions. On the occasion of National Handloom Day, she also presented the Prime Minister with a special Solapur handloom chadar featuring an embroidered image of Modi. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who attended the meeting, described the interaction as cordial and said discussions included the state's development and the rainfall situation in Maharashtra. Shinde also welcomed the Prime Minister's decision to personally invite six newly aligned Shiv Sena MPs to the breakfast gathering, saying the gesture had made the lawmakers happy.

NCPI MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said the MPs were impressed by the manner in which Prime Minister Modi welcomed them. According to her, Modi stressed that NDA members, regardless of how long they had been part of the alliance, should work together as one family. She said the Prime Minister emphasised unity and collective efforts for the development of West Bengal and other eastern states. NCPI MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said discussions also focused on the development of the northeastern region and the need to work towards the Prime Minister's vision for the area. Another NCPI MP, Rachna Banerjee, described the meeting as a fruitful and memorable experience and said the lawmakers were honoured to receive an invitation from the Prime Minister.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal also shared details of the interaction, saying Prime Minister Modi spoke about experiences from his personal, political and social life. According to Mittal, the Prime Minister advised MPs to remain punctual in fulfilling their commitments and encouraged them to connect with students and young people by listening to their concerns rather than simply speaking to them. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and BJP president Nitin Nabin were also present at the breakfast meeting. The interactions come at a politically significant time, with Parliament witnessing repeated disruptions during the Monsoon Session and several recent changes in the political affiliations of Rajya Sabha MPs.