Bengal all set to replace Uttar Pradesh as state with most BJP members

The central government had set a target of around 60 lakh for West Bengal. However, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh had publicly stated that there will be one crore new members from Bengal.

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Bengal all set to replace Uttar Pradesh as state with most BJP members
As of August 2019 Uttar Pradesh BJP has a membership strength of 1.36 crore. (Photo: PTI)

The number of applicants for the BJP membership drive is approaching one crore mark. Statistics available till late Wednesday indicated that at least 98 lakh people have applied for the BJP membership.

Party sources are optimistic that the numbers would breach the crore mark soon.

It may be recalled that BJP had flagged off its nationwide membership drive on the birth anniversary of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on July 6.

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The central leadership had set a target of around 60 lakh for West Bengal. However, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh had publicly stated that there will be one crore new members from Bengal.

"It was decided to run the membership drive till December 31 of the current year," said state BJP general secretary. However, the overwhelming response to the rive may mean the drive ending after Kali puja and Diwali.

Sources claim that the party's membership drive garnered 1.75 lakh members in 2009. During the membership drive in 2014, some 43 lakh people signed up for the saffron party.

Taking lesson from the past, BJP has set up camps to complete the formalities on a massive scale. The members who had signed up via missed calls, have been contacted and the necessary documentation completed.

Accordingly, the verified number stands at 98 lakh. State BJP leaders claim that at this rate they would soon replace Uttar Pradesh as the state with most BJP members. As of August 2019 Uttar Pradesh BJP has a membership strength of 1.36 crore.


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