NRI push for BJP Lok Sabha poll campaign

The BJP has activated its plans of enrolling the Indian diaspora inclined towards the party for the Lok Sabha election campaign and expects around 5,000 people to spend a fortnight at the peak of the poll season to reach out to voters on the ground as well as through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.

The party held a meeting of around 150 non-resident Indians (NRIs) from 25 countries on the eve of Republic Day at the BJP headquarters in Delhi to discuss the role and responsibilities of the diaspora. BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal, party vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and head of the party’s foreign affairs department Vijay Chauthaiwale, addressed the gathering.

“The party has asked these volunteers to work in their hometowns where they would be familiar with the people and the language. They should get in touch with their relatives and friends to ensure their vote for the BJP,” Chauthaiwale told ET. The next stage in the campaign would be phone calls to friends and relatives as well as staying in touch with them through WhatsApp. The BJP tapped the NRIs who are supporters of the party and were visiting India for the Pravasi Bhartiya celebrations as well as the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj.


The party feels social media’s reach has increased manifold since the 2014 Lok Sabha election and this medium should be used extensively in the campaign. Chauthaiwale said while Twitter is mainly popular in the metros and among the urban populace, WhatsApp has percolated down to the village level and hence is a more active medium. The party has already enrolled around 1,500 volunteers from the UK, 500 from the US and 200 from Canada.

A UK4Modi2019 Facebook page has become functional and more such pages are in the pipeline.