The newly appointed chief of the Delhi Congress, Ajay Maken, is expected to announce one of the party’s most extensive, technologically driven outreach programmes immediately after assuming charge later this week.
According to senior leaders, a massive membership exercise facilitated by web-based applications and the Internet was at the core of Mr. Maken’s plans. At the top of his list of priorities is reviving the Congress’s fortunes in the Capital.
Mr. Maken, a former Union Minister who led the party’s campaign during the recently concluded Assembly polls, will formally assume charge as president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) on March 8.
“Apps have been developed on all major platforms across smartphones, including Apple, Android and Windows, and a dedicated website for the purpose is also in the works,” said a leader. “The idea is to make seeking membership of the party as easy as possible and to connect with as many people in the youth segment as possible,” the leader added.
The party will begin reaching out to the youth over issues central to them over the apps, while its cadres do so by re-establishing contact with residents of slum clusters, minorities and similar groups on the ground.
Another senior leader said the party was so “enthusiastic about adding more members” to its rolls that many were in favour of postponing the implementation of a recent decision by its high command to raise yearly membership fee for active members from Rs.5 to Rs.250 across the country.
“New members will not be required to pay as per the new directive; we have requested the senior leadership that only active members do so for this year,” a leader said.
