After organising multiple yatras in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress party has planned an extensive strategy for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. Many say the Congress has planned a charm offensive strategy. Though the scale is not as big as it was for UP, the party is going to work around the similar idea of “appeasing farmers” to gather support.
The Congress party has been in a campaign mode for the past couple of months in Punjab. It has rolled out 13 campaign trucks in 13 parliamentary constituencies, which have been tasked to cover all Assembly constituencies. Different “sammelans” are being held every day. The party is putting emphasis on wooing Dalit voters, who constitute almost 31% of the population, which is the largest Dalit population in any state of the country.
Sources say starting from Wednesday the party members and prominent leaders will be out on the streets, petitioning the farmers. Kisan Maang Patras or forms will be distributed to the farmers, in which they will be required to fill their outstanding loans. The party has this time promised farm loan waiver, guarantee of the produce being lifted at the MSP and no seizure of land. Land in Punjab has always been an emotive issue for its people.
The party members say after the allegations of corruption against the Aam Aadmi Party, its position in the state has been cemented. The party may rope in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to launch its manifesto in Punjab.
The Congress this time feels that it can build on the anti incumbency of the current Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has already travelled to Punjab by train to meet the farmers. He also raised the issue of the drugs. The infighting is a major concern for the party.
