While the Congress is focusing on Assam, it is not putting in much effort in West Bengal, which will also go to the polls in eight phases from March 27 to April 29.
No high-profile Congress leader has visited West Bengal so far, though Rahul Gandhi has been on a campaign trail in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala besides Assam.
While Rahul Gandhi ended the first leg of his poll campaign in Assam on Saturday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will hit the campaign trail in the poll-bound state from Sunday.
She is expected to address six public meetings in Assam. While Priyanka Gandhi had already visited the poll-bound state once earlier this month, sources said that Rahul Gandhi may turn up for another leg of campaigning in the state.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and AICC general secretary have been camping in the state for the past two weeks.
They have been personally monitoring Congress’ affairs in the state.
The Congress is banking on the elections on the basis of five guarantees, including non-implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to counter the BJP.
Releasing the party’s manifesto for the poll-bound state on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi said that if Congress is voted to power at the Centre in the next general elections, its government would nullify the CAA.
“Assam was hit by violence 20 years ago, but after the Congress came to power in the state, it ensured peace, harmony and development,” Rahul Gandhi said.
In Assam, Congress has spelled out “five guarantees” which will be fulfilled if the party is voted to power.
These include five lakh government jobs to the youth in five years, up to 200 units of free electricity per household, Rs 365 daily wage to tea garden workers and Rs 2,000 per month to housewives, besides the guarantee of not implementing the CAA in the state.
The Congress has formed a grand alliance or ‘Mahajot’ with three Left parties — CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) — along with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Anchalik Gana Morcha, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and two community-based parties – Jimochayan (Deori) People’s Party and Adivasi National Party.
