AHEAD OF the 2024 elections, the Maharashtra BJP has come up with an idea to attract new voters — those who have turned 18 and are newly eligible to vote — by providing free online mock tests for competitive entrance examination to engineering, medical, pharmacy and law courses.
Party sources told The Indian Express that this initiative was announced by the BJP’s state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule at a closed-door meeting with its leaders in Pune on Friday. As part of the move, they said, the party has started a portal http://www.bjpexams.in for aspirants to register. The plan currently targets only new voters in Maharashtra but could be expanded later, they said.
The sources quoted Bawankule as saying at the meeting that the initiative “is a good opportunity to attract youth by helping them in shaping their careers that begins with admissions to various courses”. They said that the party is also working to launch a state government programme that would provide skill development training to 1.5 lakh youth with a stipend of Rs 8,000 and assured employment later.
Detailing the strategy for the portal for mock tests, sources said, Bawankule told the gathering that 10 lakh students in the state appear every year for various entrance tests for admission to professional courses. “He told us that if we help them, they will become close to us. It will be a direct electoral gain for the party, and so party cadres should reach out to every youth in that phase,” sources said.
The plan, they said, is for party cadres to distribute information about the portal to youth through pamphlets, advertising boards and appeals in educational institutions. “The students reach out to book shops before competitive entrance examinations so the party can reach out to owners of these shops to provide information about the portal,” sources said.
The state chief has also asked party leaders to record videos of the initiative and upload them on their social media accounts. “Everyone should run advertisement campaigns about the portal in social media,” sources said.
The Indian Express visited the portal and found on the home page this slogan: “Free online test series for all students of Maharashtra.” Calling for registrations, with a link provided below, it said: “10,000+ questions.
A message on the home page read: “BJP Maharashtra organizes free online mock test series for MHT-CET, JEE, NEET and MH-CET LAW exams.” a message read.
It said, “Mock test series will be a separate test based on each subject. Students can participate at any time they want. Students can view the results and analysis of the results on the computer, laptop or mobile immediately after taking the test.”
The message said: “BJP Maharashtra has appealed to the colleges and classes to involve maximum number of students so that the students can get admission in the reputed Engineering, Pharmacy, Medical and Law colleges of the country.
The registration form, which is one click away, seeks details such as name, address, contact number and age.
