JOIN USDelhi rally litmus test for UP Cong
The proposed rally of the Congress party in Delhi on November 4 will be the first major test for the newly appointed Uttar Pradesh party president Nirmal Khatri.
The central leadership expects the state unit to make a significant contribution in filling the historic venue of the rally — Ramlila Maidan.
No wonder why the anxiety is visible on the faces of the state’s Congress leaders. State party chief has asked them to ensure participation of as many people as possible in the rally from their respective areas.
A series of meetings were held at the party headquarters here to discuss the Delhi rally. “The rally is very important for us also. Its success will go a long way in boosting the sagging morale of the party workers in the state,” said a senior state Congress leader here.
He said it will also a big challenge for the new UP Congress president. “A good participation from the state will certainly give a fillip to his standing in the eyes of the high command, while a poor participation will dent his position,” he added.
Khatri had sent a circular to all the district and city unit presidents of the party, asking them to take maximum number of people to the rally.
The eight zonal in-charge would be visiting the districts under their command. They will coordinate with the local leaders to ensure that a large number of people participate in the rally.
“Nirmal Khatri will also be touring the western UP districts for this,” a state unit’s source said.
Leaders here said the success of the rally will depend upon the extent of participation received from the districts which border or are close to the national capital. “The local leaders in these districts will play a crucial part,” a source said.
The party in UP suffered from lack of organisation at the grassroot level. The membership drive of the Youth Congress also failed to achieve the desired response and thus had to be abandoned midway in many districts.
Congress could secure only 29 seats in the recent assembly polls and had to face a humiliating defeat in the Nehru-Gandhi pocket boroughs of Raebareli and Amethi.