New Delhi: In an attempt to boost the confidence of its workers before the upcoming civic election, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is all set to address a mega rally on Tuesday at the Ramlila grounds in the national capital. Though the local Congress leaders say that the rally was only for the party workers, political pundits said that it was an attempt by the party to boost the morale of its cadre at grassroots level for the civic polls.
The Congress had to face a humiliating defeat as it could not win even a single seat in the Assembly elections. Of the 70 seats, the AAP won 67 and the BJP could wrest control on only three seats. If this was not enough, the Congress faced another defeat in the Lok Sabha polls where the party could not retain even a single of the seven parliamentary seats in Delhi.
As the Congress will be facing both the AAP and BJP in the civic polls, it is leaving no stone unturned to make a comeback on the political stage in the city. Sources said that a large number of workers are expected to show up in the rally. “We have given personal invitations to one and all,” a local Congress leader said, adding, “Rahulji’s rally will show that the Congress is the strongest political force in Delhi.”
The campaign theme for the rally and for the 272-member MCD elections — likely to be held in April — will be “Bahane nahi, karenge vikas (no excuses, we will bring real development)” and “Anubhav hae hamare paas (we have the experience to deliver),” sources said.
The city Congress leaders would also launch “padyatra (foot march)” across different wards from March 8. “For the MCD polls, we believe in low key door-to-door campaign,” another party source said.
In desperate revival mode, the party is hoping that the foot soldiers are all set for the campaign in full swing. It had made a bit of a comeback last year with the municipal bypolls. The party, looking for a new innings, is going to highlight the achievements in the development arena.
