Focus on border villages, youth, tribals: Modi to BJP members

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday became the first member of the BJP under the party’s membership drive as the ruling party embarked on a new mission with a goal of exceeding “all past records”. Currently 18-crore strong, largest political party of the world BJP aims to enrol at least 20 crore in a drive that will span two phases — September 2 to 25 and October 1 to 15.

Reach every village, city, house: Shah

Person of every age, class and religion should be connected with the BJP. We must reach every village, city, house, island, forest and mountain to expand the party. Amit Shah, Home minister

Modi became the first BJP member today after JP Nadda officially enrolled him kick-starting the campaign during which the PM set lofty goals for the party. Under the BJP constitution, entire current membership is terminated on the eve of the new drive and everyone must become a member anew.

Modi asked cadres to spread across the country and launch their campaigns from the weakest booths where the party has historically polled the least amount of votes. But Modi’s most important message to colleagues today was of enrolling entire border village residency as BJP members.

“Can we have a special unit to launch BJP membership drive in border villages and convert entire border villages into BJP fortresses? Once border villages become BJP fortresses, they will naturally become India’s fortresses. Membership is not a mere number game. It is a means to strengthen the nation. I want border villages to be transformed into BJP fortresses,” Modi told enthusiastic cadres, who assembled at BJP headquarters to listen to him and cheered him throughout.

The PM also asked party workers to draft special campaigns to enrol 25-year-olds as BJP members. He said today’s youth are the foundation of India’s Viksit Bharat at 2047 goal and must be prepared in the BJP’s “nation first ideology”.

Terming the description of an “election machine” the worst possible insult to the BJP, Modi said, “There cannot be a bigger insult than the description that the BJP is an election machine. Election victories are mere byproducts of the diligence of our workers,” Modi said listing tribals, residents of inter-state border towns and villages, women and inhabitants of tough terrains as the primary focus areas for the BJP’s membership drive which, he said, was an exercise to expand the saffron family.

To inspire cadres to reach tough terrains, Modi recalled his days in Himachal Pradesh BJP organisation and how as part of membership drives, then, he would take full days to reach one village. “And a hot cup of tea awaited me,” the PM smiled, asking BJP leaders to turn the membership drive into a festival and ensure the lotus blooms in the heart of “every beneficiary of government schemes”.

Once the primary BJP membership drive concludes on October 15, BJP will launch active membership campaign (October 16 to 31). Anyone who has worked in the BJP for three years, has enrolled 50 members and paid Rs 100 fee can become an active member, gaining eligibility to contest organisational elections which will start from booth level and culminate in the election of the BJP president. Current party chief Nadda, whose term ended in June, is on extension.

Earlier in his address, Modi ticked off insecure party leaders telling them, “Some people think what will happen to them if newcomers come. They don’t realise that this approach is a recipe for stagnation. You will move up only when someone below takes your place.”