PATNA: The Congress has launched a membership drive in Bihar with a target of having 3.2 million active members by the end of this month amid growing differences with the ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

“Everyone needs to be trained [for]…digital membership drive, which is the most authentic way of having the database of active workers up to the booth levels. This is slightly technical and hence all those spearheading the drive have to be tech-savvy,” Congress leader K Raju told a group of functionaries, including state party chief Madan Mohan Jha .

Raju, who heads the Congress’s Scheduled Castes Department, called for intensifying the membership drive for the party to re-emerge as a political force in the state. He asked the party leaders to strengthen the Congress organisation to get maximum seats in the assembly by winning back the people’s trust.

Raju, who is considered close to former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, cited recent political developments and added they make it clear that the party will contest future elections on its own.

The comments came days after the RJD on Sunday announced 20 candidates for the legislative council polls while allotting a seat to the Communist Party of India. Congress is believed to be planning to contest all 24 seats alone.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said they decided to contest a majority of seats as per the wishes of the party and its supporters. He added they are with Congress ideologically, but regional parties such as RJD, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party should be in the driver’s seat at the local level.

Yadav’s differences with the Congress are believed to have begun after the national party could win just 19 out of the 70 seats it was allotted in the 2020 assembly elections.

Also Read: Punjab polls: Only Cong can ensure peace, security in Punjab, says Rahul

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has called Congress’s dismal performance in the 2020 polls one of the factors that frustrated their alliance’s chances to form the government.