CHALLENGES GALORE FOR CONGRESS IN RAJASTHAN

Selection of candidates poses a tough challenge to the ruling party.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

After the announcement of elections, the challenges of the Congress seem to be increasing in Rajasthan. The high command is also said to be worried. Amidst all this, selection of candidates is also a ticklish task.

If sources are to be believed, in the survey conducted by Rahul Gandhi's team, the position of most of the current ministers and MLAs is weak. The biggest concern of the party is why this situation has arisen despite all the public welfare schemes of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Women's safety and paper leak issues being raised by BJP is also a cause of concern for Congress.

There is no doubt that BJP is trying to woo women and young voters. In view of this, Congress may now have to make a different strategy. For example, to woo the voters of 13 districts of East Rajasthan, Congress is going to organize a yatra from October 16, making the East Rajasthan Canal Project the main issue. This is being considered a part of the new strategy. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Priyanka Gandhi will also participate in this yatra on different days.

Similarly, there will be different issues in different divisions. Priyanka Gandhi's announcement of giving free education allowance to children up to 12th class in Madhya Pradesh is an election gambit that she can play in Rajasthan also. In order to repeat the government in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has made many such announcements and decisions in the last two years which are discussed in the entire country. Among these, schemes like restoration of the old pension scheme and Chiranjeevi Swasthya yojana are prominent.