Dehradun, Jan 27: With Lok Sabha polls round the corner, BJP in Uttaranchal is going on an expansion drive by targetting Muslims, scheduled tribes, and the intellectual community for party membership. Addressing the press at a function where student leaders, a scientist and an academic joined the party here, BJP state president Bhagat Singh Koshiyari said Muslims, scheduled castes and other 'down-trodden' people were being brought into the party through a 'massive' membership drive. Union Minister for surface transport and highways B C Khanduri, who was also present at the function held at the party headquarters here, said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees' visit to Uttaranchal tomorrow would boost the prospects of the party. Koshiyari claimed several people belonging to the tribal belt of Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district and Muslims in Haridwar district, had joined the party.
Bureau Report