By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: Irrespective of Samajwadi Party’s claim to contest 65 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Congress leadership is preparing to strengthen the party organisation to contest all the 80 seats. In the state since both the parties are members of INDIA alliance, preparations are underway to take up BJP in Lok Sabha polls, each in its own way.
As a part of the strategy UPCC president Ajai Rai who contested against PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi in 2014 and 2019LokSabha polls is busy touring different parts of UP to contact party leaders and workers. Ajay Rai is also holding zonal meetings of party office-bearers to get the feedback about the state of affairs and possible candidates.
Revival of party and strengthening the organisation at booth level appears to be the main task of UPCC president. After so many years any UPCC president reached out to Congress minded people and veterans who had taken back seat due to apathy of previous leaders. Ajay Rai is making consistent efforts to call former ministers, MPs and MLAs to come to PCC office and give their valuable suggestions for revival of party at ground level.
UPCC President is also attending small meetings of different communities and castes to understand their problems and grievances about previous Congress leadership. He is making notes and announced that a detailed report would be submitted to party high command.
More efforts are being made to win over powerful communities Muslims and dalits who were part of traditional vote bank of Congress which enabled the party to rule for several decades. Significantly Congress is poaching Muslims from Samajwadi Party and dalits from BSP which registered decline in vote share during last few elections.
UPCC president is busy in projecting his party as main opposition party at national level which is challenging BJP. UPCC president plans to field senior leaders in key Lok Sabha seats. Attempts are being made to bring AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to contest from any reserved seat to mobilize dalit voters for Congress in state particular and country in general.
UPCC president Ajay Rai has already announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi while request would be made to Gandhi to choose constituency of choice which could be Varanasi, Prayagraj or Rae Barelli.
There is no doubt that with his efforts and actions UPCC president Ajay Rai has brought Congress Party in discussion which is a must for any political party facing elections seriously. (IPA Service)
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