Siblings cite logistic issues and paucity of time despite Congress' efforts to organise at least one public meet
Ahead of an all-important contest for the Congress in Mumbai, Party President Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi have expressed their inability to address rallies or participate in road shows due to time and logistical issues. However, the most needed Gandhi push one week prior to the polls will be missing and the party will have to rely on local firepower to take on it's rival.
The city unit tried its best for Congress president's road show on April 25 in five seats contested by its nominees and one by its ally Nationalist Congress Party. The party made all its efforts to organise at least one public meeting by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a serious bid to lure the party's traditional voters and the first time voters in particular.
Mumbai Regional Congress Committee general secretary told DNA "The party president had addressed a well-attended rally in Bandra Kurla Complex on March 1. The MRCC was quite keen to organise a road show or rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The police authorities also cited traffic issues. Besides, both the party president and general secretary preferred to skip Mumbai due to paucity of time.'' He admitted that the party will rope in the city and state leaders to campaign for five of its nominees.
A former minister informed that the party was banking on rallies by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as it would have charged the cadre to further work hard to step up voters outreach. "However, the candidates are now banking on personal contacts and trying to make a bond with everyone they meet in the remaining days,'' he added.
Congress has fielded Milind Deora against Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant in south Mumbai, former MP Eknath Gaikwad against Shiv Sena nominee Rahul Shewale in south-central Mumbai, former city unit chief Sanjay Nirupam against Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar in north-west Mumbai, former MP Priya Dutt against BJP MP Poonam Mahajan in north-central Mumbai and Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar against BJP MP Gopal Shetty in north Mumbai. Congress party's ally NCP has fielded former MP Sanjay Patil against BJP nominee Manoj Kotak in north-east Mumbai.
Whereas the BJP and Shiv Sena, fighting anti-incumbency are relying on Modi magic as the PM Modi is slated to address a rally in the city on April 26, a day prior before campaigning closes on April 27 for Phase 4 of the polls.
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