U’khand polls: Congress looks to woo young voters
HARIDWAR: With eye on the 2022 state assembly election, the Congress is ensuring its cadre and leaders reach out to maximum people in rural areas, especially youth.
Buoyed by the success of first phase of village-oriented drive “Gaon-Gaon Congress”, the party launched the second phase of this drive on Friday. Senior leaders have been given responsibility to attend and monitor campaign activities.
Senior leaders will also stay at least two nights at villages so that they interact with villagers effectively and apprise them about Congress ideology and election vision.
During this campaign state party in charge Devendra Yadav will have night stay at Lohaghat in Champawat, Barhait-Bharadi in Bageshwar district, Congress national general secretary Harish Rawat will stay at Kedarbagad village in Almora, Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal at Khirshu village, Pauri.
Leader of Opposition Pritam Singh will stay at Gadera village in Chakrata and former PCC chief Kishore Upadhyay will camp at Kodh village of Tehri Garhwal.
With major emphasis on youth in the second phase, at all nyay panchayat meritorious students will be felicitated along with holding of cultural programmes.
“Village to village campaign connects our party leaders and cadre directly with the local rural people. Night staying provides much better opportunity for direct interaction and we better understanding the life, issues and views of rural people. Majority and heart of India lies in villages and Congress has been catering to rural areas since party’s inception,” said Congress state vice president Dhirendra Pratap.
District media coordinator of this campaign Aman Garg said in Kumaon and Garhwal divisions, this campaign has got overwhelming response from villagers as well as party leaders.
“This campaign will also include cultural programs on Nov 13, discussions forum and awarding of meritorious students on November 14 and cleanliness drive at nyay panchayats on November 15. Twoday night staying of party leaders will bring a better perspective of rural life and issues,” said Garg.
The BJP though turned down the Congress’ pro-rural approach, saying the opposition party has no base now whatsoever whether in urban and rural segments.