New Delhi: Aiming to enroll 50 lakh new members in the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the Bharatiya Janata Party’s membership drive. Modi flagged off the online membership drive by registering himself as the first member of the party.

Encouraging people to be a part of politics, he said that BJP is a party of he diversity. “Contrary to popular belief, politics is not tainted. If it was bad, Mahatma Gandhi would never have been a part of it,” he said.

Modi added that to be a member of the party at a time when it is in power means, that every member of the BJP is a representative of the people. “Nation expects political parties, workers, leaders to play an important role. Indian politics has changed. Now people expect parties to play significant role in public life,” Modi said.

Modi also said that the BJP has turned digital at a time when the Central government is also talking about Digital India. “I compliment all members of the BJP and the party President on the use of modern technology for strengthening the party,” he said.

At the launch of the membership drive, Party President Amit Shah said that the drive from November 1 to March 31, 2015 is not to increase the party’s power but give more strength to the people of India. “It is increasingly important that more and more people join BJP. We are starting this membership drive at a time when our party is in power and a new movement of development has begun,” Shah said.

Shah said that who ever wants to join the party can join merely by dialing a toll-free number. “People can join the BJP by just giving a miss call on a toll free number. Thereafter, you will immediately get registered and the party members will come to meet you and handover the registration receipt to you,” Shah said.