BJP to become largest political party? Saffron party says its membership crosses 8-cr mark

New Delhi, Mar 23: BJP on Monday said its membership has crossed the 8-crore mark as it hopes to become the world's largest political party.

Communist Party of China is at present the largest political party in the world having a membership of 85.13 million (8.51 crore), according to latest available data.

BJP has set itself March 31 as the timeline to become the biggest political party in the world.

"Congratulations to our hardworking karyakartas and new members on crossing 8-crore members mark," BJP President Amit Shah said today.

He also congratulated the Rajasthan unit of the party and state chief minister Vasundhara Raje for enrolling 50 lakh members in the state. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav also lauded the achievement saying the party has added one crore members in the last eight days.

The party's ambitious and hi-tech online membership drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 1 by becoming the first member by dialing a telephone number followed by Amit Shah who became the second member.

"BJP's 8 crore members crossed," Madhav e said, adding that the first crore were added in 30 days, the second in 22 days and the third crore in 13 days.

He said the party added the 4th crore in 16 days, the 5th crore in 18 days and the 6th crore in the subsequent 21 days.

The last two crore members were added in 15 days and 8 days respectively.

The speeding up of membership drive comes amid hectic meetings and touring of Amit Shah to various states to step up the effort and finalise the drive by the end of this month. Shah is likely to come out with the total membership at the party's national executive meeting slated in Bangalore on April 3 and 4.

PTI