Cong plans membership, crowdfunding drive from Oct 2

The Congress state unit will carry out a massive membership drive and a door-to-door crowdfunding initiative from October 2 to November 19, as part of its nationwide exercise in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge, K C Venugopal, who chaired a meeting of KPCC office-bearers and DCC presidents, later told the media that the aim of the ‘Jan Sampark Abhiyan’ was to establish a constant and energetic connect between the party and the people.

He said that the Congress workers under the leadership of booth presidents would be asked to go door to door to distribute the campaign material and also request for funds.

“This is a new programme for Karnataka. All Congress leaders will have to involve themselves in this fund collection and campaigning for Lok Sabha elections. The motive is to involve grassroot ‘sahayogis’ (booth workers) to drive fundraising for the party in a systematic process. Along with membership drive at household level with special focus on 18 to 24 age-group, the campaign also involves collecting relevant voter and donor data which can be synergized with the party’s ‘Shakti’ programme,” he said.

Venugopal said that each booth will be given a target of collecting Rs 10,000. While 50% of the total amount collected will go to the AICC; 20% will go to the booth committees, while 15% each will go to KPCC and district committees.

The massive people connect programme would strengthen the Congress to fight the 2019 elections. “We are confident of winning majority seats from Karnataka, as we are equipping our functionaries from grassroots to the top level,” added Venugopal.

Venugopal also said that the Congress would stage a massive protest against the BJP’s Rafale deal, in Bengaluru on October 8.