The Congress party on Monday chose to adopt the ‘wait and watch’ strategy before releasing its manifesto for the civic polls in Chhattisgarh.
“We will release our poll manifesto only after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases it,’ former MlA and senior Congress leader Mohammad Akbar told media persons here.‘Barring some issues to be added for the civic polls including that of Raipur, same manifesto will be used for all the civic bodies’ polls”, he said.
Akbar, who is also the party’s Manifesto Committee President took suggestions from the members including former MP, PR Khunte, Gondagaon MlA Mohanlal Markam, former MlA Phulodevi Netam, Raipur Mayor Kiranmayee Nayak, Janjgir Municipal Council’s President Ramesh Paigwar, IAS Shishupal Sorri and others to finalise the issues to be raised by the party during polls.
“During the assembly polls in the State, Congress party’s manifesto had leaked and thus we have decided to delay release of the manifesto to be prepared for the civic bodies’ polls”, he reasoned.Akbar added that the issue of proper cleanliness, roads, electricity, drinking water and other basic amenities will be given place in the manifesto.Meanwhile, the party appointed its sitting MlAs from different constituencies as observers to take the party workers and local leaders’ feedback and suggestions for the candidates’ selection process, a party press release issued here on Monday stated.
As decided, the observers including Pritam Ram (Chirmiri), Umesh Patel (Ambikapur), Khelsai Singh (Raigarh), Gurmukh Singh Hora (Korba), Mohan Markam (Bilaspur), Arun Vora (Raipur), Motilal Devangan (Durg), Anila Bhediya (Rajnandgaon), Manoj Mandavi (Dhamtari) and Janakram Verma (Jagdalpur) will visit the respective cities in next two days.
The observers will hold meetings with the local leaders and workers and will also take consent of the district and block level committee to include their choice in the candidates’ selection process. They have been asked to submit their report to the State Congress Committee till November 12.It was also decided that first meeting of the party’s State Election Committee will be held on November 15.The meeting, which was earlier scheduled on November 12, was postponed due to the senior party leaders giving their time to attend the 125th birth anniversary celebration of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to be held in New Delhi on November 13—14.
Senior party leaders and the committee members including Motilal Vora, Rajya Sabha MP, Mohsina Kidwai, Durg MP, Tamradhwaj Sahu, CGPCC president, Bupesh Baghel, ClP leader, TS Singhdeo, former chief minister, Ajit Jogi, former Union minister, Charandas Mahant, MlA and the former state president, Dhanendra Sahu, former MP, Parasram Bhardwaj and others will participate in the meeting.