New Delhi, November 1
With a smartphone in his hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today became the first online member of the BJP. He was followed by party chief Amit Shah. Calling for vertical and horizontal development of the party, Modi said people from all sections of the society should feel they have a representative in the BJP. He asked party carders to ensure that the BJP had a representation from all six-lakh villages and all sections of the society.

Horizontal development, he said, means that party workers should reach out to remote villages and ensure enrolment of at least one member in every village. Vertical development entails strengthening of the organisation, said Modi.

“Our country is full of diversities. The BJP should also be visible as a party with diversities. The BJP should reflect it and every section of the society should feel that their flower is represented in this wonderful bouquet (of the BJP),” Modi said.

He urged party workers to be peoples’ representative and give the right information to the top leaders. There should be a flow of information from the grassroots level and the guidance should flow from the top, Modi said.

The BJP will invite democratic parties from other countries to visit India and see how the party was democratically conducting its membership campaign, he said.

Stressing new-age technology, Modi said renewal of membership in “digital BJP” was possible through SMS. Becoming a member earlier was difficult but it has become easier now due to digital revolution adopted by the party, he said.

The saffron party aims at inducting new members, especially from the regions where it is now trying to spread its wings, in the eastern and southern parts of the country. The party has around 3.25 crore members.

In his introductory speech, BJP chief Amit Shah called it an important day for the party. Senior party leaders JP Nadda and Ramlal were also present.

Reaching out to the young and educated India, the section which is said to be averse to politics, Modi said “politics is not dirty. If it were, Mahatma Gandhi would not have stepped there”.