The Odisha BJP unit has set a target to enrol 50 lakh members as it launched its membership drive in July. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as for Steel, Mr Dharmendra Pradhan launched the drive from Ekamra Assembly constituency in Bhubaneswar. “We have set a target to enrol 50 lakh members this time,” he said. The saffron party is looking to increase membership from the current level of 36 lakh to 50 lakh.

Mr Pradhan said that the party would focus to enrol more youth and respectable people from the society. He asked party workers to plant at least five saplings in every booth and undertake the Swachh Bharat campaign across the state. “@BJP4India is a party that is committed to serve the society, including people from the bottom of the pyramid. Urged people in Odisha to join #BJP and strengthen our efforts in fulfilling the aspirations of 130 Crore+ Indians,” the Union Minister tweeted.

Notably, the BJP has emerged as the second largest party in the state by winning 23 seats in state Assembly in recently concluded elections. It also bagged eight Lok Sabha seats out of 21 in the state. The vote share of the saffron party has increased significantly in the recently concluded Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.