Cong holds strategy meeting, resolves to focus on urban areas

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 10

A Congress strategy committee meeting for the Haryana poll took place in Delhi today where it was resolved to focus on urban areas in the state, as the BJP is stronger there. It was decided to highlight the BJP government’s failures and achievements of the Congress regime (from 2005 to 2014).

2,500 apply for ticket

• More than 2,500 candidates have applied for the Congress ticket from 90 Assembly segments
• The party plans to hold big rallies in September

State in-charge Deepak Babaria, former CM and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, state party president Udai Bhan and former Union minister Birender Singh were present in the meeting along with MLAs. Former Union minister Kumari Selja and Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala didn’t attend the meeting.

Most of the MLAs gave their inputs in the over three-hour-long meeting. Analysing the Lok Sabha election results, where the INDIA bloc was ahead in 46 constituencies and the BJP in 44 Assembly segments, it was resolved to focus on urban areas where the saffron party had performed well. “In urban areas, the unemployment is rampant and it is a big election issue. That is why we are promising to bring investments to create jobs. We have to stop children from migrating abroad. We also discussed highlighting the failures of the BJP government and our achievements,” said Hooda.

On the Saini government’s recent measures to lure OBCs, Hooda said, “It was the state government, which lowered the creamy layer criterion among OBCs from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. Now, they have increased it to Rs 8 lakh again. But who is accountable for the loss of so many years in admission to educational institutions and jobs.”

He added that the government had been recruiting people for contractual jobs without any provision of reservations and was playing with youths’ future. Hooda said soon the dates of the ‘Rath Yatra’ across Haryana, which he would lead, would be finalised. “Big rallies involving central leadership will be held in September,” he informed.

Babaria told mediapersons, “We have decided to expose the lies of the BJP government, the kind of promises they are making. Our campaign, ‘Haryana Mange Hisab’ was discussed, and also how to involve more workers. The holding of press conferences, public meetings and rallies were discussed.”

Deputy Congress Legislative Party leader Aftab Ahmed said, “It was told in the meeting that winnability will be the criteria for giving tickets. It was discussed that people had reposed faith in us in the Lok Sabha poll and we have to maintain that. We have to keep up the momentum gained in the parliamentary elections.”