Congress to do a Mao to take on Maya

NEW DELHI: Seizing the opportunity accorded by the ‘money garland’ episode, Congress will launch its version of the Long March. The two-phase, four month-long effort will be flagged off by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on April 14 from the Dalit heartland of the state, Ambedkar Nagar.

This version of the Long March, which will launch the post-general elections phase of Mr Gandhi’s campaign in the state, is meant as much to galvanise the party as to sharpen the attack on Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati.

To be conducted in two phases, the yatra is ostensibly meant to celebrate 125 years of Congress. But given the choice of date, B R Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, and location of the flag off, the real target of the yatra is BSP chief and UP chief minister Mayawati.

The first phase of the yatra will end on May 31. It will focus mainly on the achievements of the party, and will also touch upon the policies of the BSP government in Lucknow.

The second phase of the yatra will begin on September 15 and end in Allahabad on November 10.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address a rally to mark the end of the yatra. Seeking to give the impression that this rally is essentially Congress party’s celebration of its long years, attention is being drawn to the significance of the closing date.

“On November 10, 2010, the first working committee meeting was held in Anand Bhavan in Allahabad,” Congress general secretary in charge of UP, Digvijay Singh said.

Unlike the first phase, in the second phase the focus of the yatra will be largely on policies of the UP government, and the state chief minister Mayawati’s phenomenal increase in assets.

“We are going to take the case against Mayawati to the people pointing out that she is no longer Dalit ki beti but daulat ki beti,” Mr Singh said. The party also plans to make public details of Ms Mayawati’s assets, and its rate of increase. “We will use her tax records, and other public information to mark the growth in her assets from the time she entered politics till date. This kind of growth is unheard of,” Mr Singh said.