Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going from strength to strength as the response to the party's membership drive has been beyond its expectations. Party sources said the membership strength is likely to reach 75 lakh by the time of party’s annual plenary on April 21.
“The membership has already touched 73 lakh and we are expecting the numbers to go up further,” said a senior party functionary.
This is up from the 51 lakh members the party had a year ago. Party leaders are confident that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi will emerge as the biggest political party in South India in terms of membership. Telangana Rashtra Samithi has received Rs 12 crore in cash and cheque of Rs 1 crore from the members towards the membership fee. While an ordinary member has to pay Rs 30 , the fee for an active member is Rs 100. However, active members from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have to pay only Rs 50. The party is expecting the money from the membership to go up further.
“Money from the membership will be spent for the welfare of the members,” the leader said.
On the lines of ruling Telugu Desam party in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Rashtra Samithi too has an insurance scheme for
its members.
In case of the death of a party member, his or her immediate family gets an insurance of Rs 2 lakh. The entire process of claiming the insurance is looked after by a dedicated team of the party. last year about a thousand party workers’ families got benefitted from the scheme.