Rahul sets hectic schedule for polls, frames narrative

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has set a hectic pace of campaign for the Lok Sabha polls visiting six states in the past week and has outlined the partys electoral thrust to raise social and economic issues including jobs, healthcare and farm loans to oust the Modi government.

Gandhi has been touring one state after another since the announcement of the poll schedule on Sunday last and has visited Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttarakhand besides Delhi.

The Congress has also taken a lead in declaring its candidates and has come out with three lists containing 54 names.

Gandhi will be in Karnataka on Monday, Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday and Manipur and Tripura on Wednesday.

Apart from political rallies, Gandhi has addressed booth workers meetings, interacted with health professionals and addressed a press conference. His programmes also include interactions with students and opinion makers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet addressed a political rally since the announcement of schedule for Lok Sabha polls.

Gandhi has also been setting the themes of party's campaign. In his visit to Tamil Nadu, he announced 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs.

During his visit to Chhattisgarh, he announced that Congress will ensure right to healthcare for people and said it will be more beneficial to people compared to Ayushman Bharat scheme of the Modi government.

In his rallies and interactions, Gandhi has also been talking of minimum income guarantee scheme, farm loan waiver, jobs and removing "flaws" in implementation of Goods and Services Tax, which will be replaced by a single rate GST.

Gandhi has also been making allegations against Modi over alleged corruption, calling him "chor" (thief) and has been seeking to portray him as a friend of the rich who was not concerned about the farmers and the common man.

He has accused the BJP of not fulfilling its poll promises including on creating jobs.

--IANS

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