No suffixes or prefixes, just call me Modi: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday credited the teamwork of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and cadre, and the government's governance record, for the recent resounding victories in three heartland states, saying the party will need to move forward with a collective spirit.

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Referring to himself as an ordinary karyakarta or worker, Modi said honorifics such as "shri", "ji" or "adarniya" should not be used for him as it put distance between him and the people.

Addressing the lawmakers at the parliamentary party meeting after impressive victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the PM shared the credit for the mandate with the party colleagues. The lawmakers gave him a rousing reception for leading the party to victory with a standing ovation.

"Earlier today, I attended the @BJP4India Parliamentary Party meeting. Our party karyakartas are buoyed by party's performance in the recent assembly elections and are looking forward to working even harder in the times to come, spreading the message of development among people of all walks of life. We'll continue to fulfil people's aspirations and empower the poorest, downtrodden and marginalised," he said on X.

He also asked the MPs not to address him as Modiji or adaraniya Modiji as people know him as "Modi", and added that such terms put a distance between him and the people. "I am a small karyakarta of the party and people think that I am part of their family. Don't adjectives like: i or adaraniya as people think of me as one of them and as Modi," he said, according to people present at the meeting.