Rahul plays tribal card to kick off Congress campaign

Kicks off Congress' election campaign in Chattisgarh asserting thatgovt would work for tribals if voted to power

All India Congress Committee (AICC) Vice President Rahul Gandhi Thursday kicked off Congress’ election campaign in Chhattisgarh asserting that the government would work for the tribals if voted to power.

Addressing a public meeting in Jagdalpur—the divisional headquarters of tribal predominated Bastar---Rahul said the Congress government would empower the tribals, backward communities with more rights. “The fight of tribals and backward community is the fight of Congress,” he added.

The function was attended by senior party leaders who shared a common platform to demonstrate unity among different sections in the party. The state goes to the polls in November this year and the Congress aiming to return to power after 10 years in Chhattisgarh started the campaign from Bastar.

The region has significance, importantly for the Congress. Bastar has 12 assembly constituencies and has been the gateway to power in Chhattisgarh.

Those winning Bastar will form the government. In the last state polls, BJP bagged 11 out of the 12 seats in the region.

The Congress party lost its key leaders in May 25 Darbha ghats Naxal ambush in Bastar.

The victims included party’s state chief Nandkumar Patel, its tribal face popularly known as “Bastar Tiger” Mahendra Karma, former union minister V C Shukla and others.

Rahul’s speech concentrated on the “martyrdom” of the Congress leaders who were on a campaign to oust the BJP from power when Naxalites ambushed the convoy.

“The Congress leaders were not killed in the attack but it was an attempt to suppress the voice of Chhattisgarhi people,” the AICC Vice President said.