In an attempt to lift the morale of its workers in the panchayat election campaign and address their fear of Bikram Singh Majithia, the Congress on Saturday organised a public rally at Theriawal village in the assembly constituency of the Akali minister.
Before the election scheduled on July 3, it was the first Congress rally in the campaign. Lalli Majithia, chairman of the intellectual cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), who is also party's man in charge in the Majitha constituency, was behind this show in Majitha constituency. He was brought back into the party to fill the leadership void left in Majitha after his expulsion.
"We know we stand no chance in the panchayat elections, particularly in Majithia's strongholds. Our motive was to bring workers out of their homes and encourage them to shed their fear of Majithia," Lalli told the media after the rally.
Two Youth Congress leaders from Delhi, who were expected at the rally, failed to turn up. The main speaker was state Congress vice-president OP Soni, who is in charge of the party in the Majha belt; and GS Mamanke, a prominent leader from Tarn Taran district.
Soni asked the party workers not to be afraid of Majithia or any other Akali leader, as the party leadership would stand by them if the government implicated them in false cases for participating in the elections.
{{/usCountry}}Soni asked the party workers not to be afraid of Majithia or any other Akali leader, as the party leadership would stand by them if the government implicated them in false cases for participating in the elections.
{{/usCountry}}Lalli said he had always stood by the workers harassed by the Akalis. Jatinder Singh Majithia, all-India president of the Rahul Gandhi Youth Brigade, also addressed the rally.