SHILLONG, Feb 7: Looking to counter the might of BJP, which is roping in as many as 20 heavyweights, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Meghalaya to give teeth to the saffron party’s poll campaign, a desperate Congress is airdropping Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor to bolster its prospects ahead of the February 27 polls in the state.
Meghalaya Congress president and MP Vincent H Pala revealed his party’s plan to take on BJP’s might at a time when his party’s poll initiatives have so far been lacklustre.
“Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and even Shashi Tharoor will be among the star campaigners for the Congress. We are finalising the names. As many as 20 others from Meghalaya will also be added,” Pala said.
He singled out PM Modi’s proposed visit to the state questioning the voluminous expenditure such a visit would cost. “How can a Prime Minister or a Home Minister visit Meghalaya as a star campaigner when their travel costs are being borne by the Centre? Come and lay foundation stones for projects that will benefit the people of the hill state,” he said.
Pala also took a dig at BJP central leaders for their visit to the state as star campaigners. “The BJP has not provided anything worth mentioning to the people of Meghalaya even after nine years of its rule at the Centre. It would do well for the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to visit Shillong and inaugurate schemes and projects but they should avoid making political comments as the cost of their visits here is borne by the central government,” he said.
Much of Pala’s attack was directed at Modi, who he said, “had campaigned in the Garo Hills (in earlier years) because they can bring crowds from Assam”. He alleged that the BJP avoided similar rallies in areas far away from Assam.
Pala also accused the BJP of putting the Christians at “the receiving end” in states where it is in power.
“In Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh or Karnataka and even in Assam, the Christians are at the receiving end. The Christians are at the receiving end wherever the BJP has set foot. The share of the Christian population in Meghalaya is over 75 per cent and they do not trust the BJP,” Pala said.
He further said the Congress will release its election manifesto by February 9 or 10.
Meanwhile, the Congress sought to flex its muscle on Tuesday organising a rally with a good number of supporters in a show of strength.
Once a formidable force in Meghalaya, the party has lost steam in elsewhere and Meghalaya.
The rally is seen by many as the grand old party’s statement to its critics about its presence in the state. Observers say Tuesday’s rally was the biggest in terms of size in the past four and a half years.
According to them, the show of strength also served a message to those leaders who have abandoned the party.
Congress leader and Mylliem candidate, Ronnie V Lyngdoh countered the political parties for calling the state congress a spent force. He said, “Believe me the Congress will bounce back. There is tremendous support for our party from all sections of the society, especially the youth,” he said adding, “We have about 3,500 youth enrolled in Youth Congress.”
Countering statements like the Congress is a sinking ship and lacks substance, he said, “There are only two national parties BJP and Congress. BJP rules in only 12 states but Congress has presence in all the states of the country.”
“How can anybody say we are a sinking ship? We may not have elected candidates but the party exists in all parts of the country,” he said.
Pointing out that the Congress has recently won elections in Himachal Pradesh ruled by the BJP, he asserted that the Congress will capture more seats from BJP bastions.
He informed that making the state free from corruption, solving the unemployment problem, ensuring uninterrupted power supply in the state and security to women are a few areas that need attention.
He stressed that women’s empowerment should be ensured especially in the matrilineal society that exists in Meghalaya. “If women are empowered, we empower the state and the whole society,” Lyngdoh added.
Meanwhile, Congress working president and Pynthorumkhrah candidate, PN Syiem said the party would keep faith in candidates who are competent and help the party win many seats. He said that the state needs good policies which Congress leaders once win can ensure.
He, however, avoided commenting on the BJP candidate from Pynthorumkhrah constituency, AL Hek. On the performance of the MDA Government, he said that people are watchful and they are the best judge.
Many other Congress candidates too filed their nomination papers on Tuesday. They included two women candidates from West Shillong and South Shillong constituencies respectively.
