Some of them may be his electoral adversaries, but in a bid to get young first time voters to cast their ballot BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi is writing to (or tweeting to) prominent Twitterati asking them to encourage voter registration.
“Dear @PMOIndia lets encourage voter registration among 18-24 yr olds. Large number of them are unregistered. EC drive presently underway.” Modi tweeted to the PM.
Among others who’ve received Modi’s appeal were Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor, ex-cop turned activist Kiran Bedi, the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Bollywood personalities like Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, Anupam Kher, Priyanka Chopra, Hritik Roshan etc.
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Bedi and Tharoor were quick to support Modi’s appeal.
“@narendramodi Thanks. Good to have an issue on which I agree with you 100%. I have been urging young people in my constituency to do so," tweeted Tharoor
Meanwhile, Bedi tweeted in reply to Modi saying it was a 'Sacred Duty'.
She also tweeted saying there is an “urgent need for toll free call numbers for guidance of voter-registration.These call centers could be run by CECs and NGOs.”
Tapping first time voters has been Modi’s stated strategy to make the Lok Sabha polls a success in favour of the BJP. Modi is known to have asked state level units to reach out to prospective voters and tap the strong anti-incumbency mood prevalent in the country.