BJP asks new members to list their caste, hobby

In the ‘pro forma’ prepared specifically for the purpose, members will be asked to list their area of interest and their caste.

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The need for the latter, according to the campaign in-charge for UP, Prakash Sharma, arises from the BJP’s “desire to reach out to people of every caste and community”. “It (caste detail) would be collected to ensure that the party as well as the Central government are connected to every section of the society,” he said.

A source, however, said the caste-wise details of members are collected to “facilitate deployment of leaders of particular caste in particular areas” during the upcoming elections.

The information regarding the members’ hobby or their area of interest will be used in assigning them to particular projects.

“For example, if any person with interest in cleanliness could be used to run the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign while those concerned for the environment could be roped in for the ‘Namami Gange’ project. Those interested in social work could be given the responsibility of creating awareness on ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ programme’,” Sharma said. Significantly, the three programmes are on the priority list of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has asked party cadres to popularise these among the people.

Among other details, the ‘pro forma’ will also ask the members to mention their profession, age, educational qualification, number of persons in the family and their profession and educational status.

“During the one-to-one interaction, members will be told about the party’s ideology, the state government’s failures, the Modi government’s achievements and the Centre’s upcoming programmes,” Sharma said.

After the Mahasampark Abhiyan, party will be organising training camps where new members would be told about their ‘responsibilities towards the society and the organisation’ as a BJP worker.

The BJP has added more than 10 crore members across the country including 1.80 crore in UP since it launched its membership drive nearly six months ago.