In Greater Noida, Congress tries to regain lost ground

While the AAP launched its protests against the Land Acquisition Ordinance in Gurgaon, the Congress tried to recovered lost ground through similar agitations at the other end of NCR — Greater Noida. After its defeat in Delhi, which many in the party believed was a result of losing the support of minority communities and Dalits to the AAP, leaders admitted that they were worried about the AAP’s agitation in Haryana.

“The AAP has already capitalised on our seeming weakness in Delhi… It is looking to expand its voter base in Haryana. So, it is important for us to focus on Western UP where the AAP has no presence currently,” a leader said.

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Last month, the Congress had launched a campaign against the “dilution” of the Land Acquisition Act. But the party refused to acknowledge any similarities with the AAP. “The AAP is yet to establish itself through its work. They have no locus standi in Haryana,” the leader said.

The Congress is now looking at the twin villages of Bhatta-Parsaul in Greater Noida as the nucleus for its nationwide campaign. Former ministers Jairam Ramesh, Anand Sharma and K V Thomas are part of the party’s strategy group on the land ordinance issue.