After Rajasthan, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is now planning to turn his attention to wooing tribals of poll-bound Chhattisgarh.Rahul will address a rally in Jagdalpur, Bastar district, where a Maoist attack had wiped out the State Congress leadership, including PCC president Nandkumar Patel and Mahendra Karma.
Immediately after the May 25 massacre, Rahul had expressed his desire to visit the attack site in Darbha Ghati, but was advised against it due to security reasons and heavy rains. But now, with polls approaching, Rahul has decided to launch the campaign from the epicentre of the Naxal movement as Bastar decides which party will form Government in the State.
AICC general secretary BK Harisprasad said the Congress is already in election mode. It has continued with the mass contact programme to dislodge the BJP Government. But Rahul’s rally will be the first major event to be addressed by Central Congress leader.
He faces a daunting task of not only fighting ruling BJP but also containing the Congress infighting.Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has been touring the State in doing non-political rallies much to the embarrassment of the State unit.
Jogi, who has grievance against PCC president Charan Das Mahant, has been projecting his own nominees at different places despite claiming to be a Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist.
Party’s central leadership is fully backing Mahant and leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey with Hariprasad saying that Jogi will get whatever role the State leadership will recommend for him. Sources said that efforts are on to make Jogi adhere to party’s discipline.