Rahul to blow poll bugle in HP
SHIMLA: Days after Prime Minister Narender Modi set the ball rolling for Bharatiya Janata Party’s election campaign at a rally in poll-bound Himachal, All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi will make an attempt to bolster Congress’s sluggish electioneering from Mandi’s Paddal ground.
Grappled with infighting, the warring factions of the Congress will put up a united face at the Mandi rally planned for October 7, as the ruling party will make development as its main poll plank.
Rahul Gandhi is likely to highlight achievements of the Virbhadra Singh-led government at the rally christened as ‘Vikas se Vijay ke aur’ besides he will counter Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s tirade against the party.
During his address at Bilaspur’s ‘Abhar’ rally, Modi had made a scathing attack on Congress, when he said the entire ‘leadership was out on bail’.
He targeted AICC president Sonia Gandhi and AICC vicepresident Rahul Gandhi over the National Herald case, besides making a fervent appeal to people to oust Virbhadra Singh’s government.
Modi had also termed Virbhadra Singh’s government as ‘zamanati sarkar’.
The BJP is upbeat as it is rely- ing on Modi’s charisma and banking on anti-incumbency factor against the state government.
Modi’s rally in the state had rattled the ruling Congress as it immediately announced a rally in Mandi.
It was at the same site that Prime Minister Narender Modi addressed a parivartan rally aimed at calling for change in the state last October.
VIRBHADRA, SUKHU MAKE JOINT EFFORTS
To ensure rally’s success, chief minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are making joint efforts.
The Congress is targeting a crowd of approximately 40,000 people. “Office bearers of the party have been assigned duties,” said Sukhu.
The party has deputed its general secretary Harbhajjan Singh Bhajji and vice presidents Harsh Mahajan and Ram Lal Thakur to make arrangements for the rally.
Chief minister Virbhadra Singh himself will be overseeing arrangements.
AICC general secretary in-charge for Himachal, Sushil Kumar Shinde, is likely to arrive in Kullu on Friday.