Congress sure of throwing up surprise in 2012 polls

With Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi making an all out effort to restore the party’s lost fortunes in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the party is upbeat about its chances in the February 2012 polls.

“Political pundits and pollsters did not give us much of a chance even in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, but we surprised them. This time too we shall give them a surprise,” Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said while talking to reporters about the party’s prospects.

He was dismissive of the Anna Hazare’s threat to campaign against the Congress in the poll-bound states. “I have always maintained that his movement is neither against corruption nor for a strong Lokpal. He is simply anti-Congress. Or else why doesn’t he campaign against Mayawati in UP? Or for that matter against the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states? He is just interested in targeting the Congress,” he added.

The party is also upbeat about its chances as it feels that the large crowds attending Rahul’s public meetings in the state are a sign of the changing popular mood.  The party has finalised its candidates for 271 of the 403 seats in the state assembly and has left another 45 for its alliance partner, the Rashtriya Lok Dal. The nominees for the remaining seats would be announced shortly.