Congress props up 5-point plan to corner BJP

NEW DELHI: In the run up to budget session and assembly elections to Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, the Congress leadership is working to prop up a bouquet of five issues against the Centre, with an aim to cater to the significant social sections as well to rally a larger Opposition unity in Parliament.

After the party’s success in rallying the Opposition unity and cornering the Modi government on the issue of the proposed changes in the land acquisition Act, the Congress is working to take issues that will appeal to the politically-sensitive constituencies such as rural poor, Dalits, tribals, the youth and the volatile issue of federalism.

The Congress has already made a conscious effort to identifying with the wounded Dalit sentiment over the suicide of Rohith Vemula with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi making two quick visits to the Hyderabad Central University campus. The main Opposition party is now working to reach out to the rural poor and tribals by alleging the Centre was guilty of “shoddy implementation of MGNREGA programme” and “dilution of ” Forests Rights Act, respectively.

For the Congress, Dalits constitute its most sensitive pan-India constituency. Congress is trying to relay a political message that since the Modi government assumed office, Dalits, like minorities, “are at the receiving end of Sangh Parivar outfits”.

The Congress is now planning to carry out various programmes in several states by highlighting Dalit issue. Dalits form an important social segments in most states and even though BSP leader Mayawati has established a clear political grip over them in UP, the social segment continues to be the most important constituency in many states for the Congress. By raking up the Dalit issue, the Congress also calculates to rally around a large section of Opposition parties in Parliament besides trying to push the NDA regime on the back-foot.