Modi, Shah thank Union ministers for 'service to nation'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Union ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as allies at a meeting hosted by party president Amit Shah at its headquarters.

The PM met Union ministers from the BJP as well as allies at the meeting -- called 'Aabhar milan' (expressing gratitude).

The BJP described the meeting as an occasion to thank ministers for 'their service to the nation' ahead of the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election on May 23, following which a new government will assume charge.

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, J P Nadda and Prakash Javadekar were among the key leaders from the BJP at the meeting.

Some ministers from BJP allies, including Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party, Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Akali Dal and Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal, were also present.

The saffron camp has expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance will emerge victorious, with the exit polls too forecasting a return of the Modi government.

At the meeting, Modi likened his campaign for this Lok Sabha election to a pilgrimage, saying it stood out from other polls as it was being fought by the people and not the party alone.

Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar quoted the PM as saying: "I have seen many elections but this one was beyond politics. Public was fighting them. I have campaigned in assembly elections and undertaken political tours for the party in different elections.

"When I toured during these polls, it seemed that I was on a pilgrimage."

Later in a tweet, Shah said, 'I congratulate Team Modi Sarkar for their hard work and remarkable achievements in the last 5 years. Let us keep this momentum going for a New India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.'