GUWAHATI, September 22: In a bid to further strengthen the party in Assam, the ruling BJP on Wednesday mooted increasing its organizational districts in the state to 45 from the existing 39.
This was announced by state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita while addressing the first state executive meeting held with a two-day long program at North Guwahati from Wednesday.
The saffron party also set a target to increase its member strength in the state to 60 lakh from the existing 42 lakh.
“We need to further strengthen our party. We have formed the government in the state for the second consecutive term. In our office-bearers’ meeting, it was proposed that our organizational districts be increased to 45 from 39 at present,” Kalita said.
”The BJP now has 42 lakh members and we are targeting to increase the strength to 60 lakh within a stipulated time frame. Many other decisions were taken and all these will be passed during the two-day state executive meeting,” Kalita also said.
Addressing the attendees, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal called on the party members to work towards strengthening the image of the BJP-led government.
Dismissing rumors of differences with chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the former chief minister said, ”We speak regularly over the phone and discuss important issues. We are both loyal workers of the BJP. I appeal to all of you to follow him and do what the party chief says. Spread the news of the achievements of the central and state governments.”
Sonowal also appreciated his successor for the drive against the drug menace through ”relentless” operations against the supply network.
In his address, chief minister Sarma said that Sonowal had effectively led the state in the last five years and his government had set many records on various fronts.
The meeting also passed a thanksgiving resolution to Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government for its development initiatives for the state.
The first day’s meeting was begun with the unfurling of the party flag by state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita which was followed by a plantation program in which all the senior party leaders took part.
An exhibition on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life was opened by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state BJP chief Bhabesh Kalita.
The meeting was attended by BJP’s national vice president Baijayant Jay Panda, co in-charge Paban Sharma, BJP’s Northeast in-charge Ajay Jamwal, national general secretary Dilip Kumar Saikia, Union minister Rameswar Teli, organizational secretary Phanindra Nath Sharma and other senior leaders of the party.
