The Congress is now preparing to go all guns blazing into western Uttar Pradesh. This part has been neglected till now by the four yatras, which the Congress had embarked upon. There are three yatras, simultaneously criss-crossing the large state of Uttar Pradesh which has 403 assembly seats while western Uttar Pradesh has 77 assembly segments.
These segments have a 25 percent Muslim population. While Jats dominate, the area also covers the district of Muzaffarnagar where communal clashes took place in 2013. The Congress has decided to set up a crack team to tackle these assembly segments. The areas are being identified and this time it is going to be community specific. The teams from AICC will be meeting people in a community Sabha. For instance, there will be a separate Sabha for Jats, Muslims and other castes.
The idea is to address concerns and also reach out to all communities. The in charge of the Uttar Pradesh Coordination committee said, “ We stand for all castes and communities. So what is wrong if we are meeting them and hearing their concerns.”
This process will culminate in a massive rally, which is being planned for the Congress Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi apart from the Yatras which he will undertake.
The Congress feels that BSP supremo Mayawati had already availed of a headstart as she had already done one mega rally in Agra and was scheduled to do another one in Saharanpur. While the Congress is in no mood to step in, a battery of Jat leaders will be used in western Uttar Pradesh. As the area borders Haryana, former chief minister and strong Jat leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda along with his son, Congress MP Deependra Hooda, will also be used. The Congress will use the issue of Jat reservation too.
Interestingly, the UPA had given reservation to Jats which was struck down by the court. However the Congress wants to take no chances this time for the polls. That is why central leaders will be sent to interact with communities so a connect can be built.
This would serve as a basis when the yatras of the Congress vice president start.
