BJP aims to enrol 40 lakh members in Odisha

The Odisha BJP Saturday launched its membership drive with a target of enrolling 40 lakh members in the state in the next six years.

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar said the party would enrol 40 lakh members.

"Last year, the Odisha BJP had only 3 lakh members. But, around 46 lakh people voted for the party in 2014 elections which shows the Narendra Modi wave in the state. We hope the party will enrol 40 lakh members as the poor are with BJP and Modi," Javadekar told media after launching the drive in the state.

The membership drive is part of a nationwide programme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Nov 1 in New Delhi.

The minister said the people are now thinking beyond roti, kapda and makaan and want development besides jobs.

Stating that the Modi wave is still continuing in the country, he said Odisha politics is changing and the BJP is emerging as the number one party in the state.

"Proper and impartial investigation will be carried out in chit fund and mining scams in Odisha. The CBI is investigating the chit fund scam. I hope the truth will come out," said Javadekar when asked about various scams in the state.

Addressing party members here, Javadekar also mocked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for not being able to speak in Odia, the mother tongue of Odisha people.

"I can understand Odia because it is an Indian language. But your chief minister is yet to learn Odia even after 20 years. He reads from a script," said the senior BJP leader.

Party spokesperson Suresh Pujari said that the party will visit zones, blocks and villages to enrol members for the party.

Pujari explained that a member's membership in the party expires after six years and one has to renew it in order to continue as a party member.