BJP youth wing eyes more women in ranks

NEW DELHI: A poster for a poster, a pamphlet for a pamphlet and a cap for a cap. Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, and its president Anurag Thakur had come bearing ample gifts for the Saturday shopping crowd at Palika Bazaar so as to outdo volunteers of their rival Aam Aadmi Party.
The bustling market had both parties' volunteers in full force even as BJP's youth wing chose it to carry out a membership drive, focusing on women.Thakur seemed determined not to reduce the exercise to a mere photo-op. After the initial sloganeering and chants in praise of Modi, Thakur took a pen and paper and started approaching the surprised shoppers.
People were asked to call up the BJP membership number and the codes messaged to them were duly noted. Each caller was informed by Thakur about the importance of joining the party and working for the PM's development agenda.
"This is a part of our national membership drive on December 27-December 30. We hope to enrol more women to give them a platform to participate in politics. After collecting data on the callers, we will contact everyone and urge them to become members of the party," he said.
Nupur Sharma, national media co-convener assisting Thakur in this drive, said BJP would contact more and more voters directly through such initiatives. "Women's safety in the city is our priority and we hope to highlight it through such informal activity," she said. Bystanders and passersby were given out a card carrying helpline numbers and highlighting the party's new campaign, SHE-Safe, Honoured and Empowered.
Nitika Sharma, member, BJYM, informed that the drive will continue at other popular spots like shopping malls and movie halls. With Delhi polls being focused on by party president Amit Shah, every organization of BJP will try and mobilize voters. "We hope to enrol as many members as possible. Our local mandals will then get in touch with each new member individually and train them to carry the party's message to the masses," Thakur said.