Enthused by victory in Karnataka, the ruling Congress party has geared up to try and replicate the same success in Rajasthan. To strengthen the party’s efforts, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Rajasthan and is expected to meet 8,000 party workers during his two-day visit on May 15 and 16.
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot and PCC president Dr Chandarbhan had a meeting with senior party functionaries on Saturday in Jaipur and visited the Birla Auditorium, the venue marked for the gathering, where the party workers will meet Mr Gandhi.
Congress sources said the party is going to apply the Karnataka formula to ensure its victory in upcoming Assembly elections. According to the sources, Mr Gandhi will interact with large number of grass-root workers who have been instrumental at panchayat and municipal level in the state. “We believe over 8,000 party workers will get an opportunity to interact with Mr Gandhi during the two-day visit,” a senior party leader said. The party managers divided Mr Gandhi’s visit in two parts to enthuse party’s rank and file.
Sources said Mr Gandhi will be in Bikaner on May 15, where the Congress vice-president will meet members of district village panchayat, panchayat councils, village council, members of municipalities, DCC presidents, office bearers and elected representatives from 15 districts of the desert region.
Bikaner is considered as biggest city in north Rajasthan, where the party could not perform well in previous Assembly elections. Congress won 19 Assembly seats while Opposition BJP registered its victory in 12 Assembly segments in the region.