JOIN USRajasthan polls: Rahul to sound poll bugle
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will sound the poll bugle by launching his party’s election campaign for the Rajasthan Assembly polls.
In his first visit to the state, after taking over as the Congress president, Rahul will take out a roadshow on Saturday in the heart of Jaipur city.
His one day visit will comprise a roadshow, temple visit and an address to party workers and leaders.
The roadshow will traverse a distance of around 12 km from the city airport to Jaipur's Ramlila Maidan.
The roadshow has received a nod by district police and special protection group (SPG) after several rounds of discussions and inspection of the route.
Rahul will address the crowd from a hi-tech bus designed for election campaign during the roadshow, which is set to start at around 12.30 pm.
As per the Congress sources, the same bus was used for roadshows during Gujarat and Karnataka Assembly elections.
“This is Rahul Gandhi’s first visit to the state, after becoming the party president. He will sound the poll bugle and launch party’s election campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls. After conducting a road show from Jaipur Airport to Ramlila Maidan, he will address leaders and delegates from 33 districts", PCC president Sachin Pilot told DH.
According to the preparations team at the PCC office, parry workers will welcome him at 12 points during the roadshow.
As per the sources at the PCC office, Rahul will discuss the party’s roadmap and strategy for the elections with workers and will also highlight the “mis-governance by BJP government” in Rajasthan.
Later after concluding his address at Ramlila ground, Rahul will head to Govind Dev Ji temple, which is situated in the walled city.
The Congress chief's visit has two purposes: to sound poll bugle and to break the saffron clout in Jaipur district, which is often referred to as a saffron bastion.
Experts see the roadshow as a counter attack to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July 7 meet, where he had addressed more than 2.5 lakh beneficiaries of 12 welfare schemes in Amrodon ka bagh.
Followed by Amit Shah's one day party strengthening meet on July 21 with the BJP workers.
Jaipur has a total of 19 Assembly seats and two parliamentary constituencies.
In the 2013 Assembly polls, Congress party only won one seat and out of the 18 seats.
One seat was bagged by the National People’s Party and another by an independent candidate, whereas the BJP won 16 seats.
Moreover the two parliamentary seats in the district – Jaipur and Jaipur rural are also with the BJP.