The biggest obstacle in the way of Congress’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Till Thursday, Modi has held two election meetings in the state and Congress has been his direct target. The main opposition party is feeling the pressure of Modi’s attacks and BJP’s aggressive style of election campaign. The central leadership of the party is being cautious that Modi magic should not go over the voters’ heads this time too. To answer Modi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been put on the front after careful consideration. While planning Priyanka’s public meetings, such areas have been kept in mind where BJP’s star campaigners have not yet reached.
Congress will use Himachal pattern
The party has used this pattern in the election campaign in Himachal Pradesh assembly elections and in Priyanka’s election campaign. Now there are preparations to try it in Uttarakhand in the Lok Sabha elections. Congress is keeping a close eye on every election visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttarakhand.
Voting in the state is on 19th April
Voting for the Lok Sabha elections is to be held in the state in the first phase i.e. on April 19. Another major cause of concern for Congress is the election campaign of the ruling party BJP. The pressure on Congress to find a solution has increased in the manner in which BJP has taken quick and planned steps from candidate selection to election management and fielding star campaigners.
State in-charge Kumari Selja took charge
After Prime Minister Modi’s election rally in Rishikesh on Thursday, Congress has also started preparing for Priyanka Gandhi’s public meetings to be held on April 13 as a counter preparation. Congress state in-charge Kumari Selja also reached Dehradun from Delhi on Thursday. The party is going to give its full strength to make Priyanka’s election meetings in Ramnagar of Garhwal parliamentary constituency and Roorkee of Haridwar parliamentary constituency successful. This time Priyanka has been fielded before Rahul Gandhi in the Uttarakhand elections. The party plans to strengthen the emotional nature of voters in the hilly areas and its penetration among Muslim voters through Priyanka.
Priyanka will contest three parliamentary constituencies including Garhwal
Ramnagar has been selected strategically for Priyanka’s meeting in Garhwal parliamentary constituency. Ramnagar assembly constituency has a large number of Muslim voters. It is a remote area between Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. BJP has also not fielded its star campaigners in this area. Congress is strongly opposing the Agneepath scheme. Garhwal parliamentary constituency is military dominated and also houses the headquarters of the Garhwal Regiment. Through Priyanka, the party will try to reach out to women voters and three parliamentary constituencies. For the meeting in Ramnagar, party workers and area residents were mobilized from Garhwal and other two nearby parliamentary constituencies, Almora and Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar.
Programs of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge will be decided soon
After Ramnagar, Priyanka will go to Roorkee. The responsibility of convenor for Priyanka’s meeting in Roorkee under Haridwar parliamentary constituency has been given to National Secretary and former Mangalore MLA Qazi Nizamuddin. The Muslim population in Haridwar parliamentary constituency is more than 30 percent. The party does not want to leave any stone unturned in wooing this group of voters. After Priyanka, election programs of former Congress National President Rahul Gandhi and National President Mallikarjun Kharge are being decided to counter Modi. State in-charge Kumari Selja said that the programs of both the leaders will be scheduled soon.