KOCHI: Because the day he took a shock fishing journey off Thangassery coast in Kollam with two dozen fishermen, Congress former chief Rahul Gandhi has spent a couple of week within the state campaigning for the UDF for the meeting elections. Together with his first go to of February 23-24 throughout which he highlighted the deep-sea fishing row, one of many ballot planks of UDF, Rahul has up to now visited the state 3 times, campaigning within the north, central and south areas.
He taught self-defence strategies to lady college students of St Teresa’s Faculty, Ernakulam, warmly hugged and posed for pictures with aged ladies he met on the street and invited youngsters to his marketing campaign automobile wherever the street present stopped for temporary speeches. Throughout speeches, Rahul tried to spotlight NYAY, which guarantees `6,000 to BPL households, and spoke about the necessity to defeat the divisive ideology promoted by BJP. He visited Sastha temple and Vavar mosque at Erumeli, thus figuring out himself with the considerations of believers.
Earlier than the general public campaigning involves an finish within the state on April 4, Rahul is anticipated to marketing campaign for UDF not less than for 2 extra days. His sister Priyanka Gandhi reached the state on Monday for a two-day whirlwind tour overlaying strategic constituencies.
The battle for Kerala is as essential for the Gandhis as for the state Congress management. The Could 2 verdict will decide Rahul’s determination whether or not to take up the Congress president publish once more or not. The occasion is about to elect a brand new head in June and Rahul has determined to not run for the publish. With stress mounting inside the occasion for his return and the rebel soft-launched by ‘G-23’ leaders, the Gandhi scion is rethinking the choice, it’s learnt. It appears the Kerala election is seen by him as a self-appraisal as he’s the Wayanad MP.
“With all odds in opposition to UDF, it’s a actual problem to win within the state. Rahul is satisfied of that. On his half, the preparation for elections started final November when the native physique ballot outcomes had been introduced. In the event you see any freshness within the Congress candidate checklist and difficult battle in a few of LDF’s sitting constituencies the place new faces are contesting, all that is because of his resolve,” stated a Congress chief who expressed confidence of profitable again the state.
The final spherical survey by the Congress central management is learnt to have recognized 62 seats the place victory is definite. One other 20 are categorised as powerful battle seats and the management is assured of wresting half of these via intensive last-minute marketing campaign led by Rahul and Priyanka.
“That is how Pathanamthitta district bought a spot in Rahul’s marketing campaign path. Scenario has modified there and we have now excessive possibilities of profitable again Aranmula, Ranni and Konni. Even Tiruvalla appears winnable,” stated the chief. The identical logic was behind bringing Rahul to Pala, the place Mani C Kappan has posed a troublesome battle to Jose Ok Mani. He additionally went to Idukki the place UDF candidates are posing powerful contest in LDF’s sitting seats Peermade and Devikulam, and to Muvattupuzha the place Mathew Kuzhalnadan has been working onerous to defeat incumbent MLA Eldo Abraham.
“It’s true that Rahul’s marketing campaign has created a buzz. However, it’s nowhere close to the 2019 marketing campaign when he was projected as the longer term PM. I don’t suppose he can create any magic this time,” stated political scientist Ok M Sajad Ibrahim.Up to now one month, Rahul visited Tamil Nadu twice and campaigned for candidates of DMK alliance through which Congress is a junior companion. He did a two-day hectic marketing campaign tour of Assam the place the Congress is attempting onerous to unseat the incumbent BJP authorities. Although he hasn’t travelled to West Bengal but, sources say he would marketing campaign there after the Kerala section is over.
Successful Kerala and Assam is what Rahul goals for. Each had been seen unlikely occasions as marketing campaign began,. however issues modified and hope is again on the occasion central management. Even when Assam slips, Kerala win will make him snug. “A win acquired via ground-level campaigning straight led by him will clear all confusion and reaffirm his declare for the occasion’s high publish,” stated the Congress chief. ‘If that doesn’t occur…’ is just too unnerving an possibility for Congress leaders who don’t even need to suppose on these strains.
