Rahul seeks daily campaign reports from leaders

With electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh entering the decisive phase, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has sought daily feedback from central ministers, members of parliament and senior leaders on their campaign trail in the country’s key political state. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi reports.

With electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh entering the decisive phase, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has sought daily feedback from central ministers, members of parliament and senior leaders on their campaign trail in the country’s key political state.

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Gandhi, who is leading the Congress revival fight in Uttar Pradesh from the front, has directed the party leaders to step up the poll campaign and be fully prepared for the decisive battle.

Congress sources said they have been directed to give in writing almost on daily basis their observations about the party’s poll prospects in all the 403 assembly seats in the state where the Congress is desperately seeking to regain the political ground it had lost in 1989 and is out of power since then.

The state is also crucial for the Congress to re-emerge as the dominant political force in the national politics.

During campaigning, the leaders will have to note down not only the party’s strengths but its weaknesses also. They have also been asked to suggest corrective measures, said a senior functionary.

Union coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, who is heading the party’s campaign committee in UP, will be the key link between Gandhi and Congress leaders.

Earlier this month, a visibly angry Gandhi pulled up ministers and MPs for their laggard approach to campaigning.

Gandhi himself has been campaigning in UP, skipping almost the entire winter sessionto boost the party's votebank.