Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee toil for Rahul's rally in Ranchi

RANCHI: Arranging a huge crowd at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's upcoming rally here is a challenge for the Congress leaders in Jharkhand. The recent debacle at Rahul Gandhi's rally in Delhi where he had to cut short his speech owing to a thin crowd has added to the concern of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC). The party has already alerted all 24 Congress district presidents in the state to work hard to ensure huge gathering at Rahul's rally in Ranchi.The rally was scheduled at Morhabadi Maidan for Tuesday (November 19) but Rahul had to extend the date of the rally because of assembly elections in five states.
JPCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat tried to put up a brave face when he was asked what measures had he taken to ensure that Rahul's rally in Ranchi does not turn into another debacle. "People at large especially youths in Jharkhand are eager to listen to Rahulji. The rally would be historic. It is a challenge but we are working to sensitize the public about his rally," said Bhagat.
Congress is vying to attract popular support in Jharkhand where the party has only 13 MLAs. Sources in the Congress said the party has been hesitating to hold any rally at Morhabadi maidan because it was never confident of gathering enough number to impress its central leaders. The maidan is a huge ground and the party would have faced embarrassment in case the ground was left partially full.
After it entered into the coalition government with 13 MLAs, the Congress is now confident of the numbers. After wide-ranging consultations in the top brass, it was decided that a rally would be held at Morhabadi maidan to impress Rahul Gandhi, said sources. The party had fixed a date for it but Rahul did not agree to come on November 17 owing to elections in five states. No future date has been announced yet.
Congress spokesperson in the state Shailesh Sinha said the party would announce a date for Rahul Gandhi's rally soon. "We are looking for a date which would be announced after consultations with party's Jharkhand-in-charge B K Hariprasad and Congress leaders in Delhi."
The Congress party has pressed its entire force into action with a single point agenda - 'bring whoever you can to the ground on November 19'. Congress wants to show its opponents the strength it has gathered in the tribal hinterland over the past 13 years.
Ranchi: Arranging a huge crowd at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's upcoming rally here is a challenge for the Congress leaders in Jharkhand. The recent debacle at Rahul Gandhi's rally in Delhi where he had to cut short his speech owing to a thin crowd has added to the concern of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC). The party has already alerted all 24 Congress district presidents in the state to work hard to ensure huge gathering at Rahul's rally in Ranchi. The rally was scheduled at Morhabadi Maidan for Tuesday (November 19) but Rahul had to extend the date of the rally because of assembly elections in five states.
JPCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat tried to put up a brave face when he was asked what measures had he taken to ensure that Rahul's rally in Ranchi does not turn into another debacle. "People at large especially youths in Jharkhand are eager to listen to Rahulji. The rally would be historic. It is a challenge but we are working to sensitize the public about his rally," said Bhagat.
Congress is vying to attract popular support in Jharkhand where the party has only 13 MLAs. Sources in the Congress said the party has been hesitating to hold any rally at Morhabadi maidan because it was never confident of gathering enough number to impress its central leaders. The maidan is a huge ground and the party would have faced embarrassment in case the ground was left partially full.
After it entered into the coalition government with 13 MLAs, the Congress is now confident of the numbers. After wide-ranging consultations in the top brass, it was decided that a rally would be held at Morhabadi maidan to impress Rahul Gandhi, said sources. The party had fixed a date for it but Rahul did not agree to come on November 17 owing to elections in five states. No future date has been announced yet.
Congress spokesperson in the state Shailesh Sinha said the party would announce a date for Rahul Gandhi's rally soon. "We are looking for a date which would be announced after consultations with party's Jharkhand-in-charge B K Hariprasad and Congress leaders in Delhi."
The Congress party has pressed its entire force into action with a single point agenda - 'bring whoever you can to the ground on November 19'. Congress wants to show its opponents the strength it has gathered in the tribal hinterland over the past 13 years.