Congress to give tech push for party's membership drive

The Congress has now decided to use technology to give the much-needed pace to its membership drive in the State.

The party has taken steps to enrol new members online and using social media. One can obtain the membership online through the Congress website, the party’s Facebook page and mobile App. “The party has decided to keep pace with technology. Our aim is to attract educated youth in urban areas. One can also obtain the membership through the traditional method of filling in application forms,” KPCC president G Parameshwara told reporters.

Hitherto the party was enrolling new members through the traditional method. But the response from people had been poor. Of the 1.78 lakh booklets distributed to district party units, only about 60 per cent had been used. As many as 25 members can be enrolled using a booklet, the State party chief, who chaired the meeting of the KPCC office bearers and district party presidents, said.

As a result, the party has extended the membership drive indefinitely. Earlier, it had fixed February 28 as the last date for membership.

He said instructions have been issued to the office bearers to collect Rs 250 as party fund from each of the new members. While 75 per cent of the fund will go to AICC, the KPCC will get 25 per cent. Besides, the party has directed all the ministers, legislators, chairpersons of various boards and corporations to contribute to the building fund. The ministers have been asked to pay Rs 5 lakh each, the legislators and the chairpersons have been asked to contribute Rs 1 lakh each.

Parameshwara said he had directed heads of district party units to chalk out a roadmap for facing the upcoming elections to the gram panchayats and the legislative council from the urban local bodies. Besides, it has been decided to organise protest rallies across the State against the Centre’s move to bring in amendments to the Land Acquisition Act. To begin with, a public rally will be held in Bengaluru on March 14, he added.