NEW DELHI, Jan 14: Rahul Gandhi’s pitch against corruption could become the Congress’ main plank in the Lok Sabha polls, the party indicated today.
“Rahul Gandhi has a firm resolve to fight corruption. The passage of nine anti-corruption bills will create the framework for it.
“Historic anti-corruption bills were passed during the UPA. We have a track record of fighting corruption,” AICC general secretary Chairman Ajay Maken told.
Maken, who is the communication department chairman of the party, has posted slogans and posters online that seek to project Gandhi as a crusader against corruption. The slogans draw contrast between Gandhi and BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
“Rahul ji ke nau hathiyar, door karenge bhrashtachar (The nine weapons of Rahul will remove corruption), Rahul ji ka uddeshya, bhrastachar mukt desh (The purpose of Rahul is to create a corruption-free India), Modi says Congress mukt Bharat Congress says polio mukt bharat (Modi says Congress- free India, Congress says Polio-free India,” are the slogans put up on the AICC leader’s Twitter wall.
The posters also mention the nine legislations which Gandhi has been keen on. They include the Whistleblowers Bill and amendments to Prevention of Corruption Act.
With preparation for Lok Sabha elections on the fast track, the party has convened a high-level meeting here tomorrow to decide on a campaign theme ahead of the AICC meeting scheduled for January 17.
Wednesday’s meeting has been convened by senior leader AK Antony, who heads the party committee on alliances.
Apart from the AICC general secretaries, members of the party’s campaign and manifesto committees, too, have been invited to take part in the deliberations.
Party sources, meanwhile, said that immediately following the AICC meeting, party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will hold state-wise consultations with leaders on January 18 and 19. All AICC delegates, PCC chiefs and District Presidents of the party will attend the meeting.
A hectic schedule awaits Congress leaders as the meetings of Pradesh Election Committees are being convened on January 21 to decide the names of possible candidates.
Meetings of the Central Screening Committees for various states are expected to be held on January 27 to scrutinise the shortlisted candidates. The Central Election Committee is expected to convene between February 1 to 7.
Congress General Secretary Ambika Soni, meanwhile, said that in the past Rahul Gandhi had shown that he is willing to so anything for the party whenever he was given a new assignment by the party President.
She also added that since his taking over as the vice president, new mechanisms had been put into place and organisations like the Youth Congress and the NSUI had become frontal organisations under his leadership. (PTI)
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