TDP to launch online membership drive

The tech-savvy Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is launching yet another novel initiative, aimed at attracting netizens into its fold.

In what is claimed as the first-of-its-kind exercise by a political party in the country, the TDP is launching an online membership drive to enroll students, youth and non-resident Indians into its fold.

Party president N Chandrababu Naidu will launch the online membership enrolment drive at TDP headquarters- NTR Bhavan here tomorrow.

"The aim of the initiative is to take the TDP closer to the youth and the netizens," party’s IT wing chief T Srinivasa Rao said.

The online membership drive was conceived after numerous requests were made on the party's Facebook page www.facebook.com/TDPofficial that was launched recently.

The online membership process can be done through TDP website-- www.telugudesam.org where the requisite enrolment fee of Rs 50 can be paid using creditdebit cards, net banking and a secure payment gateway CC Avenue, according to Srinivasa Rao.

"Through the online drive, we want to reach out more to students, educated youths not only in India, but also abroad. After the completion of registration process and verification, all applicants will be issued membership identity cards on production of the registration receipt that will be e-mailed to them," he added.

The TDP has been the first political party in the country to issue photo identity cards for its rank and file since 1984. Since then the organisational process has been automated, refined and presented in real-time format by incorporating latest technological advances, the party’s IT head pointed out.