Mysuru: Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda would launch ‘Panchavati,’ a nation-wide BJP membership drive, today at 4 pm near Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple here.

Disclosing this at a press meet at Pathrakartara Bhavan here yesterday, city BJP President Dr. B.H. Manjunath disclosed that BJP has been acclaimed as the party with highest membership in the world, with the party standing tall through the effort of the grassroot activists. He asserted that steps to co-ordinate the party was not done from the houses of leaders or their relatives.

Dr. Manjunath further said that the members strength of BJP stands at 11 crore with the membership drive done three years ago. In that context, the drive is again commenced and would go on till August end. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the drive today in Varanasi and BJP National President Amit Shah in Telangana and will continue in all the States. It is aimed to add two lakh new members in city now. The last year’s drive fetched 1.75 lakh in KR, 1.10 lakh in Chamaraja and 45,000 in NR constituencies. The party activists and leaders would visit houses and add on the members above 18 years with no caste barrier covering even Pourakarmikas, he explained.

Planting saplings: To create awareness among people on environment protection, saplings would be planted in all areas along with membership drive.

MLA S.A. Ramdas, who spoke, opined that the membership drive would also bring together people with patriotism to strengthen the country further.

MLA L. Nagendra said that Narendra Modi would launch the membership drive in Varanasi by giving a missed call to Mob. 89808-08080, which can be done through smart phones or 89807-89807 through basic phones with the drive closing on Aug.30.

Eagerness in NR constituency: Former Mayor and BJP leader Sandesh Swamy has opined that people in NR constituency are very eager to join BJP and has asked the party activists to make best use of it.

He was speaking at a preliminary meeting of party leaders and activists at BJP office in city yesterday on the eve of the mega membership drive to be launched by BJP today. Sandesh Swamy set a goal for NR to top among the three Assembly constituencies in membership drive.