Poll plank: Congress banks on pro-poor schemes

Gujarat chief minister and BJP’s soon to be anointed PM candidate Narendra Modi may continue to mock prime minister Manmohan Singh over falling rupee and growth but the Congress may not bother much as it seems to convinced that its pro poor stance would eventually bring it back to power.

While the BJP has been banking on issues of governance and development and precisely for that reason projecting Modi as the leader who can make it happen in the same way he has done in Gujarat, the Congress appeared to be relying on its pro-poor plank.

The way Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi devoted much time in their speech about the initiative taken by the UPA government for the poor and how the opposition tried to scuttle them makes its strategy for 2014 amply  clear. Not surprisingly, the Congress has been focusing on rural areas in sharp contrast to Modi’s emphasis on urban and youth voters.

At Adivasi Kisan Rally at Salumber on Wednesday, Rahul said, “Opposition says that infrastructure of roads, airport, bridges is needed to take country forward.
These alone can’t take the country ahead unless those who work to make these are taken care of too.”

“Opposition always expressed concern about burden on economy and how would we raise money for these schemes. But, millions have beem benefitted and they say the Congress has given us Izzat (respect),” he added while reminding about Land Acquisition Bill.