In an informal yet highly symbolic interaction with party workers in Bihar on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed a message of camaraderie, accessibility, and encouragement, telling a woman BJP worker not to address him as “sir” and describing himself as her “brother.” The interaction, conducted through the NaMo app, highlighted Modi’s outreach efforts ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and underscored the central role he attributes to women in political mobilization.

Interaction With a Woman Worker

During the digital interaction, a young BJP booth worker from Darbhanga shared her enthusiasm for campaigning, stating, “I campaign for you. I want my brother Modi to win — that’s all I wish for. We work very hard and go door to door.” Her remarks captured the grassroots energy within the party, especially among young women who have increasingly become a visible presence in political campaigns.

Responding to her, PM Modi said, “Don’t call me sir, I am your brother.” This simple statement was emblematic of the leader’s attempt to break hierarchical barriers and foster a sense of personal connection with party workers, a tactic he has often used to emphasize approachability. When asked about the response of youth in Bihar to developmental efforts, he engaged with the worker and listened attentively to her perspective, further reinforcing a message of participatory governance.

The young worker, visibly moved, remarked, “I never even dreamt that I would be able to speak to you. I will always remember this.” Modi’s personal interaction, while brief, resonated as a morale booster for the party’s grassroots cadre in Bihar, particularly women who form a crucial part of door-to-door campaigning efforts.

Women Power as a Driving Force

Throughout the interaction, PM Modi highlighted women power as a core strength of his political and developmental vision. “Women power is my biggest strength, shield, and inspiration,” he stated, emphasizing the crucial role women play not only within the party but also in broader social mobilization. He urged booth workers to leverage this power by forming groups of men and women to reach every household multiple times before the elections, reflecting his belief in sustained, ground-level engagement as a determinant of electoral success.

In addition to door-to-door outreach, Modi encouraged the organization of “nukkad sabhas” or street gatherings. These informal, public discussions allow party workers to engage directly with local residents, discuss government schemes, and address voter concerns. By framing booth workers as local representatives of his persona, he reinforced a message of personal accountability. “Every booth worker is ‘Modi’ in their area,” he said, urging them to guarantee government schemes to the electorate on his behalf.

Election Context

The interaction comes amid preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, which will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14. Bihar’s political landscape is highly competitive, with major parties vying for influence in the state’s 243-member Assembly.

On the same day, the BJP released its second list of 12 candidates for the elections, including singer Maithili Thakur from the Alinagar seat and former IPS officer Anand Mishra from Buxar. The list reflects the party’s strategy of combining celebrity appeal with administrative experience, aiming to attract diverse voter segments. Modi’s interaction with booth workers complements this strategy by energizing the ground-level machinery, which is critical in a state known for high voter engagement and grassroots political activism.

Grassroots Mobilization and Campaign Strategy

PM Modi’s appeal to women workers underscores a broader electoral strategy that emphasizes micro-level mobilization. By instructing booth-level workers to visit every household ten times before the polls, he is promoting repeated engagement to ensure that government initiatives, policy achievements, and developmental promises are effectively communicated to voters.

Women workers, in particular, are positioned as central figures in this strategy, leveraging their ability to connect with households and communities in ways that male counterparts may find challenging. Modi’s focus on women power also signals the BJP’s intent to consolidate its support among female voters, a demographic that has increasingly played a decisive role in state and national elections.

The use of digital platforms, such as the NaMo app, for interactions with booth workers further reflects the party’s embrace of technology in campaign management. These interactions allow leaders to bypass geographical constraints, reach a large number of workers simultaneously, and provide real-time guidance on campaign activities. For a state like Bihar, with its complex electoral dynamics and significant rural population, such digital outreach serves as a force multiplier.

Symbolism and Public Messaging

The Prime Minister’s statement, “Don’t call me sir, I am your brother,” carries multiple layers of political symbolism. On one level, it conveys accessibility, suggesting that leadership is not distant or hierarchical but personal and connected to the people. On another level, it reinforces loyalty and unity within the party ranks, motivating workers to view themselves as active participants in a collective mission rather than passive functionaries.

Moreover, the interaction highlights Modi’s continued emphasis on cultivating a narrative of women empowerment. By publicly recognizing women workers as a core strength, he signals both political acknowledgment and social endorsement of female participation in public life, which aligns with broader developmental messaging around gender inclusion and empowerment.

Broader Implications

The Bihar Assembly elections are widely regarded as a key political battleground, not only for the state but also for national-level strategies and alliances. Modi’s direct engagement with booth workers, particularly women, demonstrates a focus on consolidating organizational strength at the grassroots. This approach, which combines personal outreach, technological facilitation, and targeted messaging, is consistent with the BJP’s broader electoral philosophy of integrating top-level leadership with local-level execution.

The emphasis on repeated household visits, street gatherings, and the symbolic positioning of booth workers as representatives of Modi himself underscores the importance of micro-level voter engagement. In competitive constituencies, such persistent, personalized contact can influence electoral outcomes by shaping perceptions of government responsiveness and accessibility.

Conclusion

PM Modi’s interaction with BJP booth workers in Bihar, especially women, serves as a multi-faceted campaign initiative. It blends personal charisma with strategic mobilization, underlines the significance of women in political organization, and reinforces the party’s commitment to reaching voters at the grassroots level. By emphasizing approachability, empowerment, and accountability, the Prime Minister sought to energize the party’s campaign machinery in Bihar, setting the stage for a politically intensive electoral contest.

As Bihar prepares for the polls in early November, such interactions are likely to continue, reflecting the BJP’s dual strategy of high-level leadership engagement and micro-level voter outreach. Modi’s message — that leadership is both personal and participatory — is emblematic of a campaign style that seeks to blend symbolic appeal with actionable mobilization.