Congress strategy: Eat, sleep at people’s homes, not hotels

Congress leaders on campaign trail for the 2012 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will have to do what Rahul Gandhi does during his visits to the state – eat and sleep at people's homes and not in hotels or guest houses.

Congress leaders on campaign trail for the 2012 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will have to do what Rahul Gandhi does during his visits to the state – eat and sleep at people's homes and not in hotels or guest houses.

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This is part of dos and don’ts that were discussed at the party’s campaign committee meeting for the UP polls recently.

The members suggested that the move would enable leaders to connect with the masses in a much better way, and also boost confidence of party workers.

“This will also give leaders an opportunity to understand problems of people in a particular area from close quarters, besides increasing the prospects of the party in the assembly polls,” a leader suggested at the meeting.

The Congress is pulling out all stops and using innovative methods to revive its fortunes in Uttar Pradesh. The party has been out of power in the state since 1989.

Elections to the 403-member UP assembly are due in May 2012, but the Election Commission had indicated February as the probable schedule for the poll.

In another first initiative of its kind, the party's central leadership will soon hold an interactive session with the candidates – so far the Congress has declared two lists of 72 and 63 names respectively — to work out a comprehensive strategy for the elections.

The party is also finalising an agency to carry out its advertisement campaign. Many agencies, including Crayons, which had bagged the party’s contract for 2009 general elections, have already given their presentations.