Sonia challenges BJP by campaigning, breathes life into Cong workers

Jaipur: Amidst the noise in national politics, Congress on Saturday started the Lok Sabha election campaign from Rajasthan in a challenging manner. Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, who stayed away from the entire campaign in the last Lok Sabha elections, has herself taken command this time. That too at a time when Sonia had refused to contest elections from her traditional seat Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh citing health reasons and became a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan. Another sign of a major change in the internal politics of the Congress was that Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi were present with Sonia in the public meeting at Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium in Jaipur to launch party’s poll campaign, but Rahul Gandhi chose to stay away. It is believed to be a well thought out strategy. Rahul was kept away from this event and his meetings have been kept for later.

Political experts believe that there are many reasons behind Congress launching its LS poll campaign from Rajasthan. Biggest thing is that after the defeat in three states in the last assembly elections, Congress has the best organisational structure left in Rajasthan only. Even in Congress ruled Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, the condition of the organisation is bad. In Uttar Pradesh, once the bastion of Congress politics, the party is able to contest only about a fourth seats in the alliance. Another reason is Sonia being a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan. At the same time, the Congress leadership may also be thinking that if Congress in Rajasthan spoils the BJP’s dream of winning all 25 seats for third consecutive time, then it will be a big success. Besides, the party’s message from Rajasthan will also reach the entire North India.

In all the speeches of Congress leaders, PM Modi was targeted and calls were made to save democracy. No new shocking thing came to light. By the way, as soon as the Congress manifesto came out, many of its points have also come under the target of BJP.