Congress to spruce up media unit to counter BJP

Party training 60 spokespersons to spread its views on TV

The Congress is planning to field party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to take on the BJP’s aggressive election campaign under its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Gandhi (42), known for his reluctance to engage with the media, is expected to hold forth on a range of issues even as the Congress grooms a team of 60 spokespersons to counter the BJP, particularly in the electronic media.

The BJP has taken a lead in implementing media strategies, an area where the Congress was found wanting.

The ruling party, however, is making amends by training its spokespersons to handle a range of issues like the party’s history and the UPA government’s achievements. The spokespersons had to undergo an intensive five-day training programme, with a focus on tackling aggressive TV anchors.

The BJP appears to have an upper hand, with articulate spokespersons putting forth the party’s views on TV.

The party also makes the most of other communication platforms like social media and mobile phones. Modi is learnt to be monitoring this aspect of the campaign.

The Congress has nominated a 36-member panel for media handling. In a bid to meet the demands of the election season, 60 more spokespersons will join them to take the party’s views to the masses.

The five-day workshop saw experts addressing the spokespersons on 21 topics including internal security, financial reforms, achievements of the UPA government, issues related to minorities, scheduled castes, health, education, food security and media handling.

The participants were given reading materials running into 1,200 pages. They were expected to read them before attending the workshop.

Among those who addressed the workshop are veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, social activists Nikhil Dey, Biraj Pattanaik and Harsh Mander, former home secretary G K Pillai, professor Radha Kumar, Planning Commission members Arun Maira and Sayeeda Hamid, historian Mridula Mukherjee and National Advisory Council member N C Saxena.

The exercise also saw the spokespersons engaging in lively debates on various issues. Their performance was assessed by the experts.

“When replies were not found apt, it was immediately pointed out by the resource persons and inputs on how to improve were also given,” AICC general secretary Ajay Maken said.