Raja initiated the tour, in the wake of the news that the membership campaign in several districts did not go as expected. Amar Prasad Reddy, state president of the party's sports and skill development wing, has been appointed to coordinate the tour.
Published Oct 12, 2024 | 10:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2024 | 10:00 AM
H Raja addressing a BJP event in Tamil Nadu. (X)
BJP’s Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai is currently in the United Kingdom to attend an education training programme. To make his absence not felt by the people in the state, the party is organising various events.
The party’s state unit Coordination Committee Convenor H Raja is on a district-wise tour across Tamil Nadu to study the membership recruitment process in the state unit of the party.
The saffron party’s membership drive ‘Sanghatan Parva, Sadasyata Abhiyan 2024′ was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 September by renewing his party membership. Modi had urged party workers to make special efforts to connect with the youth.
On the same day, membership registration started in Chennai, with Raja renewing his membership card. After this, the state unit of the BJP set a target to add 1 crore members by 17 October.
Raja initiated the tour, in the wake of the news that the membership campaign in several districts did not go as expected. Amar Prasad Reddy, state president of the party’s sports and skill development wing, has been appointed to coordinate the tour.
With rumours afloat that the Tamil Nadu unit of BJP will soon see a leadership change, the motive of Raja’s tour is unclear.
Raja, who spoke to party workers via video conferencing, requested each of them to add at least 20 members to the party in the booth and village levels.
Following that, he started his tour from Chengalpattu district on 24 September. So far he has completed a systematic tour of 39 districts like Chennai, Kanchipuram, Trichy, Perambalur, Pudukottai, Madurai, Theni, Cuddalore.
He will tour every district in the state and conclude the event in Coimbatore and Nilgiris on 17 October.
Raja will also participate in study sessions and advise party members on how to increase membership. During the tour, he visits the homes of new members and distributes membership cards. He also addresses the guidance of the national leadership to the party executives.
In the absence of Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai, Raja has been appointed to coordinate the BJP’s activities, and he is systematically exploring ways to increase the party’s membership.
Unlike Annamalai’s “En Mann En Makkal” (My land My people) foot march, Raja is conducting it as an event to unite the party members and encourage them to increase membership rather than meeting people.
Political Analyst Ravindran Duraisamy said, “After Annamalai was appointed as the BJP president in Tamil Nadu, the number of people joining the BJP party is increasing. Annamalai, who is currently abroad, presents his views of the Opposition parties through social media from time to time.”
“At present, senior leader H Raja is systematically meeting party executives and intensifying efforts to increase the party membership. This shows that unlike in the past, the BJP is working hard in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
