BJP promotes itself at kite festival

The Bharatiya Janata Party appears to be pulling out all the stops for the success of its membership drive in the State.

The party, which has taken to social networking to enrol new members, has been turning every opportunity into a platform to promote itself. The fifth edition of the Belagavi International Kite Festival was not an exception.

Visitors to the festival are greeted with an announcement urging them to enrol as members of the BJP. A stall has been set up at the venue with a huge banner urging people to join the BJP. It also mentions a toll-free number for the purpose.

The festival, organised by Parivarthan Parivar on the premises of Angadi Institute of Technology and Management, has been drawing people from all sections of society. Abhay Patil, who heads Parivarthan Parivar, is a former BJP MLA from Belagavi South constituency. Hitherto, the festival was an apolitical event.

The “political colour” for the event has not gone down well with the visitors. They appeared distracted by the BJP workers pestering them for the membership.

Rajesh Patil, a regular visitor to the kite festival for the past four years, said that despite being organised by a BJP leader, the event was so far devoid of any political affiliation. He said he was surprised by the attempt to turn the kite festival into a political platform.

BJP national president Amit Shah has exhorted the Karnataka State unit to bolster its membership base. Workers have been set a target to enrol one crore members this time.