In his first exercise after being named to lead the general election 2014 campaign, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday held consultations with the State leaders asking them to add aggression in their strategy.
Rahul met the AICC delegates from each State separately for 15-20 minutes to know about the issues that will play in the next lok Sabha polls in their State and the strength of the organisation there. On the other hand, three more members — Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Randeep Singh Surjewala — joined Rahul’s Election Coordination Committee on Saturday.
After galvanising party workers with his AICC speech on Friday, Rahul heard the concerns of the workers gathered, and focused on energising them for the battle ahead. He called on them to take on issues that affect the people in their States and fight for them vociferously. “We must fight with unity, focusing on the strengths of our party and the good work we have done over the last 10 years,” Rahul conveyed them. The consultations between Rahul and other leaders will also continue on Sunday.
Rahul’s consultations with the PCC and DCC chiefs are also intended at incorporating the views and suggestions from the States on issues on which Congress will go to lok Sabha polls in respective States, said an AICC functionary.
The party is all set to begin the process of its ticket distribution exercise by holding meetings of newly-set screening committees to meet its plan for early declaration of candidates.
At the AICC meet, Rahul had sought to enthuse the demoralised Congress cadre for the lok Sabha polls with indications of changing the style of functioning in the party. After the drubbing in the Assembly polls last month, Rahul had ensured larger participation of people, including women in decision-making like candidate selection.
With the nomination of Azad, Scindia, and Surjewala in Congress election coordination committee (CECC) its strength has now gone up to 11. A former J and K Chief Minister, Azad has earlier been a party general secretary who has handled its affairs in several States, including Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Scindia was the head of the party’s campaign committee for the recent Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls. Surjewala is a Minister in Haryana and also AICC spokesperson.
He has earlier been a Working President of the party in the State and also an Indian Youth Congress chief. Other members of the Committee are Ahmed Patel, Janardan Dwivedi, Digvijay Singh, Madhusudan Mistry, Jairam Ramesh, CP Joshi and Ajay Maken.