The Congress is intended to press young Muslim leaders into its campaign in Varanasi, where its members admit that Ajay Rai appears to be t straggling in the perception sweepstakes against BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi and even Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in certain quarters.
As part of the plan set sights on at intensifying the party’s campaign and reaching out to Muslim voters, who comprise about 3 lakh of the 16 lakh electorate, the Congress could bring in, among others, controversial Lok Sabha candidate from Delhi Congress legislature party leader Haroon Yusuf, Saharanpur Imran Masood and Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah.
The stress on young leaders is the most significant part of the plan, finalised at a meeting by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Varanasi on Tuesday, a senior leader involved in the exercise said. “Activists tell us incessantly that young voters want somebody who talks to them in a language they understand. Old leaders’ speeches do not get as much traction anymore,” as said by a leader, who did not wish to be identified.
Masood was wedged in a major controversy over an old video recording in which he was talking about “cutting Modi into pieces”.
However, a section of the party is of the opinion that he can connect with the Muslim voters. “We wish to get him here a couple of days before polling day as he may be helpful in adding the emotional appeal to Muslim voters, who appear to be attracted towards Arvind Kejriwal,” said the Congress leader cited earlier, adding that they would like to have as much as four-fifths of the share of Muslim votes in the constituency.
Abdullah and Yusuf are almost certain to campaign even as senior Congress leader Kripa Shankar Singh, observer by the party for the campaign, admitted Rai “appears to have been left behind”. Still, more rallies and meetings are expected.