In the BJP's national membership drive, Delhi has surprisingly recorded the highest number of registrations just next to the biggest State Uttar Pradesh. Giving a morale boost to the State unit ahead of Assembly elections, the Delhi BJP now boasts of over 8 lakh new members.
The saffron party which faced a tough competition from the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in enrolling members in the run-up to the December 2013 Assembly polls seems to have learnt its lessons for the upcoming elections. “The response to the membership drive for Delhi is overwhelming. In just three weeks we have received 8,24,000 registrations making Delhi the second highest beneficiary of the drive in the country. The largest State, UP, leads the race with 11,25,000 new members," said Ashish Sood, vice-president, Delhi BJP.
On Monday, the party got its highest tally since the drive was flagged off on November 1 by PM Narendra Modi. Over 55,000 people joined the party in just a day on November 24.
Senior leaders of the party believe that the campaign is rightly being able to tap the youth of the national Capital. "Interestingly, most of the supporters have joined the BJP using their phones. The missed call method is the easiest and the most desirable among the public. Unlike last time, in this election we are trying all technologically driven ways to reach out to people,” added Sood.
Besides, for the purpose of taking the drive directly to the masses, the party led by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Nakul Bhardwaj, will initiate the membership campaign in buses in the national Capital on Thursday. The programme will be launched by Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay at Shivaji Stadium Bus Terminal.
The membership drive will continue till January 15 next year. "The counts of online membership reveal that Delhi is very active. Taking a cue from this we have directed every district team that they should try to rope in at least a lakh members in the coming days," said Upadhyay.
Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP chief, on Wednesday, appointed new entrant from the Aam Aadmi Party, Ashwani Upadhyay, as the spokesperson of the State unit.
Give suggestions, honchos told
With the Delhi Assembly polls drawing near, the BJP has sought suggestions from industry honchos for innovative campaigning involving social media. State party unit has called a meeting of executives of MNCs and social media specialists to discuss blueprint of its election campaign on November 29.
“We want to use their expertise in our election campaign. In this meeting, we have invited several executives of multi-national companies and social media specialists to seek their suggestions in creating party's innovative campaign," said a BJP leader. He also said that on that day, senior party leaders will discuss the blueprint of party's campaign strategy to reach out to every person of the society, especially the youth.