Live: You have turned your pen into a broom, thank you, PM Modi tells media

12.15 pm: Thank media for good coverage of Swachh Bharat, says Modi

Thanking journalists for covering his government’s Swachh Bharat campaign, the Prime Minister said he noticed several senior columnists who had never written about a sanitation in India were now penning articles about it. “You have now converted your pens into brooms,” he told journalists at the media interaction.

“In last one month have read several articles on ‘Swachta’, a lot is being discussed in social media too,” he said, further adding that he was glad the media themselves highlighted how individuals can make a change in bringing about a cleaner India.

The Prime Minister will not be taking questions from the media and is scheduled to leave for Mumbai later this afternoon.

12.10 pm: Looking for ways to deepen interaction with media, says Modi 

Addressing journalists, PM Modi said while there were times when he cannot interact much with the media, he was working on ways to improve his relations with the fourth estate and added that he “is working on how he can increase his interaction with the media so as to get information and different opinions.”

Speaking of his times as a BJP worker at the party headquarters, the prime minister said: “There was a time when I used to wait for media persons to arrive/put chairs for them, I had friendly relations with all.”

Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah, in his welcome address thanked the people for the party’s victory in the recently held Assembly elections and also extended his Diwali greetings.

12.00 pm: Modi arrives at BJP headquarters for first media interaction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi where he is expected to informally interact with senior journalists.

Modi was welcomed by BJP chief Amit Shah, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar and senior party leaders. Joining Modi at the dais is party chief Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

11.38 am: Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj arrives at venue

The morale of the BJP seems to be at its highest. After sweeping the Lok Sabha polls and last week the two states of Maharashtra and Haryana, the BJP leadership and its cadre are truly celebrating a joyous Diwali.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived at the venue and the Prime Minister is expected to arrive anytime. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are already at the venue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his party chief Amit Shah and senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Prakash Javadekar will interact with media personnel from across media platforms this noon at a party function at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

While the Prime Minister is not expected to take questions, the interaction, titled ‘Diwali Milan’ will see Modi interact with about 400 journalists that have been invited at what is seen as a political interaction and not an official government event.

The interaction comes  a day ahead of Modi’s first dinner interaction with NDA allies that he will host at his official residence 7 Race Course Road.

The meet with allies is significant as talks between the BJP and its ally at the Centre Shiv Sena are still on to mend relations and form government in Maharashtra, where the BJP has emerged as the largest single party but short of a clear majority.