Elections ahead: Reaching out to youth will be BJD’s priority

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Bhubaneswar: In the run-up to 2019 Assembly and general elections, reaching out to the youth and new voters is a big challenge for the ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD) in the state.
BJD leader and Cuttack Lok Sabha MP Bhartruhari Mahtab informed this to reporters here Tuesday on the sidelines of an event to commemorate freedom fighters.
The BJD leader, who is also the leader of BJD parliamentary party in LoK Sabha, said, “With elections due in 2019, the challenge for BJD (this year) is to reach out to the youngsters.”
“All those who have taken birth in 2000 will be empowered with the voting rights in 2019. Hence, reaching out to them in an effective way has become a very big challenge,” Mahtab said.
According to the leaders of the ruling dispensation, to garner support of these new voters the party will use various media. However, thrust will be on use of social media.
The BJD has already started working on expanding its public outreach though social media. The party has already organised workshops for its MLAs and district leaders on use of popular messaging app WhatsApp for promotion of party activities.
Meanwhile, the BJD leaders have also admitted the fact that ahead of 2019, 2018 will be more challenging as the opposition parties will also remain pro-active throughout the year.
“The year will be more eventful and challenging as both ruling and opposition political parties will remain proactive and intensify their political activities,” BJD MP and spokesperson Pratap Deb had said a day back, adding, “Focus of the parties will be on strengthening party base and intensify political activities at grass-root.”