Rahul Gandhi to launch Gujarat campaign today

Congress may soon announce its poll manifesto in Gujarat where it has been out of power since 1995

Role review

Monday was the last day of a coordination meeting organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) where all its 40 allied organisations shared details of the work done by them and charted plans for the coming year. Other issues such as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) aim of winning more than 350 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the RSS units’ role in the process were also reportedly discussed.

Manmohan Vaidya, publicity chief of the RSS, says achievements of various organisations were discussed at the meeting. He, however, did not confirm whether the organisation would push further issues like the construction of Lord Ram’s temple in Ayodhya and Article 356 or Article 35 A in Kashmir.

Final touch

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi (pictured) will launch his campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections with a workers’ meeting in Ahmedabad on September 4. The party may soon announce its poll manifesto in the western state where it has been out of power since 1995. The workers will apprise Gandhi of the functioning of the state leadership and also share their grievances. The Congress leader will also seek their assessment of the elections scheduled for November-December this year.

The party will also announce its campaign and screening committees. Leaders such as Arjun Modvadhia, Siddharth Patel and Shaktisinh Gohil are likely to be given responsibilities.

Party sources said the high command had also finalised some organisational changes in the state to accommodate disgruntled leaders.

Coming closer

Egypt, Kenya, Tajikistan, Mexico and Thailand are guest countries at the ongoing Brics summit in Xiamen, China. This is the first time Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping came face-to-face after peace broke out between the two countries following the Doklam stand-off. The meeting began on Sunday (September 3) and will continue till September 5.

On September 5, Modi will visit Myanmar over an invitation extended by President U Htin Kyaw. This will be Modi’s first bilateral visit to the country. He will return to New Delhi on September 7.