BJP achieves only 50% target of membership in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Despite the fact that BJP has been in power in Chhattisgarh for the last decade, practically winning all the elections since the state was formed in 2000, the party is finding it difficult to meet its target of enrolling 50 lakh members.

The target, set by BJP President, Amit Shah, was to be achieved by March 31 but with just over a week left for the deadline to be over, the party has only managed get 25 lakh odd memberships, 50% of the target. The failure to achieve the desired results, has forced the party high command to extend the enrolling drive till April 15. Party's national secretary and co-in-charge of the enrolment drive, Arun Singh interacted with BJP leaders and asked them to intensify membership drive.

Party's National joint general secretary (organisation), Saudan Singh disappointment over the shortfall in achieving the target was evident as he told party leaders on Sunday that they should concentrate more on the job assigned to them rather than spending time in rubbing shoulders with the chief minister. "Aap log enrolment drive pe dhyaan dein or CM sahib ke saath kam photo kichwane ke bare mein sochen" (you all should concentrate more on completing the targets of the drive rather than spending time in getting you photos clicked with the CM).

Singh's candid remarks are being viewed within the party circles as a wake up call to a section of leaders who seem to have become complacent with the party's success. However, a senior leader told TOI that the delay has been primarily due to successive elections in the state. "We have been in election mode since mid-2012. First it was assembly, then lok sabha and then panchayat and MC", he said.

However, Singh, while reviewing the progress of the enrolment drive, said these targets have to be met by April 15 and no further instructions would be given. The review meeting was attended by several senior party leaders, including Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, and party national general secretary, Saroj Pandey. Incidentally both Dr Singh and Pandey were made "active members" of the party for achieving the target of enrolling 100 new members each.

Singh also said all the new memberships would be physically verified by visiting the residences of the enrollees in the month of May.

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