Posted by Dehradun: Congress party is focussing more on local issues than the national topics in an apparent bid to counter the “Modi factor” in its election campaigns in the state’s five Lok Sabha seats- Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Almora.
PM Modi’s “personal connect” with voters in Uttarakhand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent visits to the state’s different parts, particularly the Kedarnath shrine, helps him maintain a “personal connect” with the voters of the hill state. The opposition Congress always finds it difficult to target PM Modi directly during the party’s political programmes.
Perhaps the Congress is aware about the popularity PM Modi enjoys among voters in this state and thus, it has decided to highlight local issues to corner the BJP during its election campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Local issues the congress highlights in its election campaign
This time the Congress has selected local issues such as – Ankita Bhandari Murder case, centre’s Agniveer scheme, land subsidence in Joshimath, Paper leak cases, Migration from hill parts, alleged scam in gold plating gold at Kedarnath shrine and shrinking agriculture in hill parts- to mobilize voters in its favour.
“We want the state government to disclose the name of the VIP who is allegedly involved in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. So, we are highlighting this issue in our election campaign for the 2024 LS polls in the state,” Mathura Dutt Joshi, vice president of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) said. According to him, youths suffer a lot during the rule of BJP in the state as well as at the centre. “Uttarakhand has been witnessing frequent cases of paper leaks of examinations for government jobs. This is a big issue for our party,” Dutt further added.
Congress targets youth and women through local issues
Sources said the Congress party wants to woo young and women voters by highlighting Ankita Bhandari murder case and centre’s Agniveer scheme. While safety of women always remains an important political issue in any election in the state, both the BJP and Congress are in a race with each other to woo young voters who look for government jobs. BJP continues to highlight the government jobs given to youths during its rule and the Congress is trying to counter BJP by highlighting Agniveer scheme. Army is the best choice for the youths in hill parts.
Little focus on Congress’ slogan of “Panch Nayaya”
The Congress’ slogan of “Panch Nayay” may not help it to mobilize voters in this hill state. Thus, the party is giving less focus on the national topics it has selected in form of “Panch Nayay”- Yuva Nayay, Nari Nayay, Kisan Nayay, Shramik Nayay and Hissedari (an indirect reference to the party’s demand for caste census at national level).
Migration is focal point of Congress’ election campaign
Congress party is also trying to develop the problem of migration which the hill parts face as a potential issue to counter the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Pauri district is severely hit by the migration problem. “Pauri district has given five chief ministers to the state. Yet, it suffered a lot due to the migration problem,” Congress leader Dutt pointed out.
Despite giving five chief ministers, Pauri continues to face migration problem
Five former chief ministers, who are from Pauri district, are Major General (retd) B C Khanduri, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishak, Vijay Bahuguna, Trivendra Singh Rawat and Tirath Singh Rawat. Although Vijay Bahuguna was chief minister during the Congress rule, he is now with the BJP. Khanduri, Nishnak, Trivendra and Tirath are BJP leaders.
Tough task for Congress to stop BJP from securing third consecutive victory in all the five LS seats
Despite highlighting local issues, Congress is facing a tough task to stop the BJP from securing a third consecutive victory in all the five LS seats. While BJP remained ahead of the Congress in making announcements of its candidates for five LS seats, the Congress lost a good time in selecting its candidates. Moreover, BJP has also taken a lead in its announcement of the star campaigners for the 2024 LS polls in the state. Congress is still to announce its list of star campaigners.