4 lakh new members: Kerala BJP workers stare at uphill task

Around 8,000 party workers are entrusted with the responsibility to find at least 50 people each and make them take a membership in the BJP through the new toll free number.

Kochi: The Kerala unit of the BJP has begun a mega membership campaign in the state to bring in at least 4 lakh members before the party president Amit Shah’s next visit. Around 8,000 party workers are entrusted with the responsibility to find at least 50 people each and make them take a membership in the BJP through the new toll-free number.

An SMS confirming the membership would reach the mobile phone once a missed call is given to the number, 1800 266 1001. There would also be a membership id number in the message. The recruitment procedure would be completed when the name, address, pin code, e-mail id, and the voter’s id card number are sent to another number in the message. From state leaders to panchayat workers, all have been asked to be a part of the campaign.

The BJP had done a similar missed call campaign when it came to power in 2014. Many parties including the Congress had slammed the BJP then and alleged that the missed call membership campaign was a sham. The party's Kerala unit workers now have an uphill task to recruit 4 lakh members before state president Kummanam Rajasekharan’s roadshow ‘Janaraksha Yathra’ in October.

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