Bhubaneswar, Sept. 5: The state BJP unit today launched a three-day training workshop in Puri following party president Amit Shah’s clarion call to workers to work hard to strengthen the party in eastern parts of the country.

After assuming the reins of the party, Shah had said: “The BJP is not yet strong in the eastern states. In the next decade, it is the responsibility of every party worker to strengthen it starting from booth level to the entire region.”

Despite the Modi wave sweeping across the country, the party failed to perform well in the state. The BJP, which had shared power with the BJD till 2009, could win only one Lok Sabha seat of 21 and 10 Assembly seats of 147. The party’s vote share, however, was more than the Congress, giving rise to the hope that in the future it could emerge as a stronger force.

Since the BJP came to power, it has been in an aggressive mode. In past 100 days, since Modi became the Prime Minister, at least seven central ministers have visited the state and interacted with the party workers in a bid to strengthen the organisation. It has become mandatory for all the ministers to visit the party office once they come here.

BJP sources said that during the three-day training programme, it would have 13 sessions on how to connect with the masses and strengthen the organisation. Besides, the party leaders would also be apprised of the central programmes, and they, in turn, would inform the people about them.

State BJP president K.V. Singh Deo said: “We will try to rectify our mistakes. The workers will try and act on the lessons they learn from the workshop.”

Sources said the central leadership would encourage the workers to air their views openly on why the party fared badly in the last general election.