PATNA: Taking a leaf out of its ally BJP’s concept of ‘ Shakti Kendra’, Bihar ’s ruling JD(U) on Sunday said it would constitute an 11-member ‘Jagrit Kendra’ for every 10 polling booths to sharpen its booth-level preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"Jagrit Kendra will be formed by student wing of the JD(U). It would be a nodal centre on every 10 polling booths to strengthen the party’s poll management at micro level. Each ‘Jagrit Kendra’ would have one convener and 10 members. Members of ‘Jagrit Kendra’ will monitor and guide poll-related preparations on 10 booths in the jurisdiction," Chhatra JD(U)’s state president Shyam Patel told TOI on Sunday.

The BJP has a similar body ‘Shakti Kendra’ at the panchayat level in rural area and on two-to-four wards in urban areas. Headed by a ‘Prabhari’ (In-charge) the ‘Shakti Kendra’ monitors and guides the saffron party’s activities at 8 to 10 polling booths depending upon the size of panchayat.

"In the BJP, the concept of ‘Shakti Kendra’ was first introduced in 2014 soon after Amit Shah became the party’s president. Today, wherever Shah goes, he focuses on holding meeting of ‘Shakti-Kendra’ prabharies as part of his poll management," a BJP senior said.

Addressing a meeting the Chhatra JD(U)’s state working committee in the state capital here, JD(U) MLC Prof Ranbir Nandan called upon the organisation’s district presidents, town presidents and university presidents to expedite the work of formation of ‘Jagrit Kendra’ on every 10 polling booths. "Members of Chhatra JD(U) have to play a big role in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. You all should concentrate on forming ‘Jagrit Kendra’ with an eye on the next general elections," Nandan said.

Patel said, the office-bearers and workers of Chhatra JD(U) would soon spread to district, block and panchayat level to form ‘Jagrit Kendra’ and propagate good works of Nitish Kumar Government among the masses.

He said, a state level convention of the ‘Jagrit Kendra’ convenors would be organised in Patna on October 11 on the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan .

