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Journalism of Courage
Guarded in claiming credit for economic reforms in its election campaigns so far, the Congress now plans to showcase the same in its bid to break Chief Minister Narendra Modi8217;s stronghold among middle and upper middle class voters in Gujarat.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram will be the party8217;s mascots in urban Gujarat, according to Congress sources. While the PM would address a series of public meetings in the state in the run up to the election, Chidambaram along with Commerce Minister Kamal Nath would hold several press conferences to inform the people about the UPA Government8217;s achievements, especially in economic sphere, said sources.
It would be a great departure from the Congress8217; usual campaign style that revolved around its aam admi plank and only focused on the UPA Government8217;s efforts in social sector. The party8217;s plan to showcase reforms in Gujarat election emanated from growing realisation in the top leadership that Modi remained very strong in urban Gujarat that accounted for almost one-third of the total 182 seats in the Assembly.
Even as party leaders believed that the Congress was making strong inroads among tribals 8212; as evident from huge crowds in Congress President Sonia Gandhi8217;s rallies 8212; and hoped to gain from influential Patel community8217;s perceived disenchantment with Modi, urban Gujarat has remained a big cause of concern for the party.
While claiming credit for economic growth in the state, the party has prepared a 8220;chargesheet8221; against Modi for lack of developmental during his regime.
Out of 380 promises made by the BJP in its election manifesto in the last assembly election, only 40 were fulfilled, said Congress leaders. As per the party8217;s internal assessment, the Congress has in its grasp 48 seats, the BJP 43 seats, while there is no clear trend for the remaining seats, according to Congress sources.
Meanwhile, Sabarkantha MP Madhusudan Mistry told The Indian Express on Monday that the Congress would raise the issue of Modi8217;s role in post-Godhra riots and growing incidents of suicide by farmers in the state in the Winter session of Parliament.
8220;We will also raise the issue of BJP leader Jaswant Singh offering opium-laced drinks to his guests at his native place in Rajasthan. It is relevant in Gujarat also because it shows the character of the BJP,8221; said Mistry.
