Economic slowdown, lack of jobs to dominate BJP executive meet

The slowdown in economic growth and job creation, a stimulus package to re-energise the economy and the next round of assembly polls are expected to dominate the Bharatiya Janata Party national executive meeting in New Delhi today, which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah, with political and economic resolutions to be its highlights.

The party is holding the ''extended national executive'' meeting in New Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on the birth anniversary of its ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay. The meeting will discuss a resolution on the economy and pass it in the evening.

BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a meeting of party office-bearers, state unit chiefs and other key leaders to finalise the agenda of Monday's meeting.

Party sources told The Indian Express that while the Prime Minister is expected to assure people that by 2019, the economy will be in a ''healthy'' condition, the resolution will applaud the two crucial measures taken by the BJP-led government - demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax.

According to a senior party leader, the speeches at the conclave and the resolution would emphasise that these two measures have put the country on the path of progress, correcting the past mistakes.

The government and party have come under criticism for increased joblessness as well as the steep increase in fuel prices.

The government is concerned over the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures, which has shown a growth rate of 5.7 per cent and finance minister Arun Jaitley has been talking of a package to revive economic growth after the 8 November demonetisation slowed it down.

An economic resolution is also likely to be passed keeping the focus on demonetisation and the rollout of GST.

Shah will deliver the inaugural address on Monday while Prime Minister Modi will address the concluding session.