Congress tries to woo middle class with new campaign

Mumbai: In a bid to attract the middle and upper middle classes to the party, the Congress has kicked off a campaign — Indian Professionals’ Congress (IPC). Former Union ministers Shashi Tharoor and Milind Deora are leading the initiative. Though Congress leaders have denied that the initiative is connected to the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, the idea is to get connected with people of certain strata.

Mr Deora, who is vice-chairman of the IPC, will start its Maharashtra chapter soon. The chapter will provide a stage for professionals from diverse fields to express their views about politics, provide help in making policies, amending laws and giving feedback about functioning of the government.

“We are trying to bring professionals like doctors, lawyers, CAs, bankers with strong opinion about what is happening in the country. We will provide a platform to them through Indian Professional’s Congress. We want the people who are willing to contribute their money, research and knowledge of their industry should come forward and generate ideas. There has been no such platform available for the professionals for the longest time where their ideas can be heard,” Mr Deora, who represented the South Mumbai constituency in Parliament, said.

When asked about the Maharashtra chapter of IPC, he said it would be formed soon. “There will be programmes in Maharashtra soon. We are creating chapters all over the country to start interacting, raising issues before the government. First we will start recruiting people all over the country to have a formal structure,” he said. There will be events, interactions, exchange of ideas, meeting politicians, understanding feedback of particular sectors, he added.

The Congress seems to have taken this initiative to reconnect with the people after its drubbing in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, Mr Deora denied it has anything to do with future polls. “It has nothing to do with the membership drive. If a person is a fellow of Indian Professional’s Congress, he need not be a party member. This is a part of creating a network of professionals who share ideas,” the former MP said.