Maharashtra Cong gears up for assembly elections

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Maharashtra elections, the state unit of the Congress has set into motion an outreach programme. As part of this effort, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee is organising meetings on August 9 at every party office from the grassroot level upwards, where it proposes to draw in freedom fighters and local persons of eminence.

In the meantime, Maharashtra PCC has been carrying out a "sampark abhiyan" across the various regions of the state. This is part of the warm-up exercise ahead of the elections to assess the mood, mobilise workers and make a ground level assessment of the party's prospects.

As part of these effort, meetings are held for party workers, general meetings are also undertaken where state level leaders from the region and state cabinet members address gatherings.

At present, this effort is being undertaken in the Marathwada region. The Khandesh and Konkan regions have already been covered. The next region to be focused on is Vidarbha, where the process will begin on July 19.

As part of the pre-election efforts, the state Congress is also undertaking a detailed study of the assembly segments. Five teams comprising five members ��� two state ministers and three MPCC office bearers ��� are meeting with workers in each of the 288 assembly segments. The team visits to assess problems being faced, quantum of votes netted by the party candidate in the Lok Sabha elections and in the 2004 assembly election.

A senior Congress functionary said, "that while the exercise could be conducted without visiting the site, the idea is to meet with workers and to enthuse them ahead of elections."

While preparations on the ground are underway, the Congress on Wednesday attacked BJP for its decision to go for a joint campaign and manifesto with Shiv Sena for the coming assembly elections in Maharashtra saying, "there is no relevance in BJP calling itself a national party after this."

Party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said: "BJP's decision for joint fight does not clear its stand. Does it accept Shiv Sena's campaign against people from other states? BJP should explain. Sena had gained by its anti-south Indian campaign. BJP then had no government in south India. But it has a government in Karnataka now. BJP calls itself a national party but after this step, there is no relevance in the party calling itself a national party."