BJP to recruit 10 crore new members: Prakash Javadekar

Bhubaneswar, Nov 8: Claiming that people were impressed with the performance of Narendra Modi Government, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said the party plans to induct 10 crore new members across the country by March 31.

"Our target is to get ten crore new members across the country this time as against over 3.5 crore enrolled last time during 2010-11. We are confident of achieving the set number as people are with us," Javadekar told reporters after launching BJP's membership drive in Odisha.

Javadekar, who is Environment and Forest and Information and Broadcasting Minister, said since BJP's vote share has gone up to 18 crore this time from around 8 crore in previous polls, inducting 10 crore members during the drive slated to continue up to March 31 should not be tough.

Stating that 80 per cent of Lok Sabha seats reserved for STs and SCs were won by BJP, the party stalwart said it showed that poor, Dalits, backward classes and economically weaker sections were eager to rise and achieve development under the leadership of Modi.

The number of seats won by BJP has gone up to 282 from 116, the union minister said adding that the party got overwhelming support from people in backward and rural belts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand as they knew that only BJP would be able to fulfill their aspirations.

Stating that people had faith in the ideology and plans of BJP before last polls, Javadekar said, "People are highly impressed with the performance of Modi government following sharp fall in the prices of petrol and petroleum products and essential commodities."

Turning to Odisha, BJP leader said the party targets to induct 40 lakh members in the state as compared to 3 lakh members enrolled last time.

The target is quite realistic as the party got about 46 lakh votes in the state in the last elections, he said.

Javadekar said a unique technique is being used with the help of mobile phones for the membership drive. Those desirous of joining the party can simply call the designated number for registration after which partymen would visit them to complete the formalities, he said.

Stating that the technique would be effective with tele-density in Odisha being 65 per cent, he said besides mobile phones, other methods are also being used.

Dismissing suggestions that BJP was being soft towards the BJD government in Odisha, Javadekar said "BJP is not soft towards BJD but is soft towards people of the state."

BJP would be strengthened in Odisha as people from all quarters including the BJD are coming forward to join our party as they are attracted by the dynamic policies and programmes of Modi, he said adding the state is rocked by a series of scandals including the multi-crore chitfund scam during the BJD rule.

PTI