Return of an old force: Indian National Congress prepare for elections

A young Indian National Congress supporter waves the party flag during a political rally of National Congress president Rahul Gandhi at Asarana village, in Bhavnagar district, some 300 kms from Ahmedabad yesterday, ahead of the second phase of India’s general election. Gandhi is expected to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the North Indian holy city of Varanasi, regarded as the oldest living place on earth. The Indian National Congress manifesto focuses on a minimum income support programme designed to help the country’s poorest households — the bottom 20 per cent.