The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat is struggling as it aims to achieve a membership target of two crore as part of its ongoing Sadasyata Abhiyan (membership drive). The party aims to enrol one-third of the state’s population, which presents a challenge in achieving this goal.
As of October 14, the BJP had managed to enrol one crore members. However, the drive to recruit sakriya sadasya (active members) began on Wednesday, ramping up the pressure on the party. In Gujarat, the base requirement for active membership is a referral of at least 100 individuals, double the number required in other states. A party leader attributed this higher bar to Gujarat being the BJP’s gadh(stronghold).
The membership drive was launched in the first week of September by Union Minister for Jal Shakti and state party president C.R. Paatil, with the party already boasting 1.19 crore primary members, all of whom are required to renew their membership.
Party leaders and elected representatives are under strain to meet individual membership targets. MLAs are expected to enrol a minimum of 5,000 members each, while MPs have been tasked with enroling at least 10,000. Ministers, MLAs, and MPs have been taking matters into their own hands, adopting various strategies to boost numbers. For instance, BJP MLA Rivaba Jadeja from Jamnagar North kickstarted her recruitment by enrolling her husband, cricketer Ravindra Jadeja.
The party aims to surpass the 1.97 crore votes it received in Gujarat during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. While recruitment has been brisk in regions like Saurashtra, some urban areas, such as Vadodara, have lagged behind, partly due to public anger over the BJP’s handling of recent floods.
Some leaders have emerged as top performers in the drive. Cabinet Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment and Woman and Child Development, Bhanuben Babariya, has registered 1.44 lakh primary members in her Rajkot Rural constituency.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has also been actively involved, visiting his Ghatlodiya constituency in Ahmedabad to personally encourage residents to join.
According to MP Rushikesh Patel, the party is making concerted efforts to maximise membership. “On Sunday, I visited seven residential societies in my constituency to encourage registrations,” he was quoted in a section of the media. BJP’s IT cell is assisting with booth-level analysis to support the recruitment efforts.
A senior minister said, “If someone voted for you, they’re already with you. Now, it’s about getting them to formally join and bring in their families.”
Last month, two Congress leaders from Valsad district claimed they were misled into becoming BJP members by Dharampur MLA Arvind Patel. Patel responded by suggesting the Congress leaders had backtracked due to pressure from their party.
At least two state ministers discreetly expressed that balancing ministerial responsibilities with organisational work has been difficult. An MLA from Vadodara criticised, “It is unfair to expect us to do tasks meant for the organisational wing. But we are doing our best.”
Despite reports of internal conflicts and public dissatisfaction over the floods, Vadodara BJP President Dr Vijay Shah denied that these issues had slowed the drive. He cited the example of the Akota Assembly constituency, which saw membership numbers grow from 1.6 lakh in 2014 and 2019 to 2.22 lakh in just 30 days this year.
The BJP conducts a membership drive every five years. In 2014, members could join by giving a missed call, but the process has become more complex in 2024. After giving a missed call, prospective members receive a link to submit their details and, once verified, become primary members. Those who refer at least 100 members can apply for active membership, pending a review by a committee.
A party leader explained the rationale behind the review process, noting that it helps ensure that active members maintain a good image for the party, preventing undesirable individuals from gaining influence.
After approval, active members must pay a fee of Rs 100 via the NAMO app to finalise their status.
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