BJP's Huge Membership Drive In Madhya Pradesh Hit By False Data Row

The BJP has filed a first information report (FIR) in Indore and Bhopal, alleging fraudulent attempts to mislead party officials

The BJP has announced a milestone in its membership campaign in Madhya Pradesh, claiming to have crossed the 1.5-crore member mark. According to the party, it now boasts 1,50,28,107 members, with an average of 232 members at every booth across the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also praised the party's membership drive, which places Madhya Pradesh second only to Uttar Pradesh in terms of the number of party members.

The Congress has, however, alleged data manipulation and cast doubt on the authenticity of the numbers. Congress leaders said their own senior members received messages telling them they have been enrolled as BJP members, despite never opting into the campaign.

Congress leaders including former ministers Lakhan Ghanghoria and Vinay Saxena have reportedly received these messages. Mr Ghanghoria, a Congress MLA, expressed disbelief at the enrollment of prominent Congress members in BJP's records, calling the campaign's claims an act of deception.