In a last-minute push to bolster its campaign in Punjab ahead of the seventh and final phase of voting on June 1, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to address a major rally in Amritsar on Saturday. The rally is part of the Congress party’s intensified efforts to connect with voters and solidify support across the State.
Following Rahul Gandhi's rally, Priyanka Gandhi will take the stage on Sunday, addressing gatherings in Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib. Her presence is expected to energize the party’s base and attract undecided voters. Meanwhile, the party is finalizing the schedule for Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also expected to visit the State to lend his support.
The Congress party’s intensified efforts come on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vigorous campaign in Punjab, where he has already addressed three consecutive rallies in the past two days — on Thursday and Friday — to galvanize support for BJP candidates.
Congress senior leader and star campaigner Rahul Gandhi’s Amritsar visit on Saturday will mark his inaugural visit to Punjab for the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. Following this, he will return on May 29 to campaign in Ludhiana and Patiala, rallying support for the state Congress president and party candidate in Ludhiana Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and former MP and party candidate in Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi.
RaGa’s rally has been organized at Meera Kot on airport road in Amritsar. Preparations, including setting up the tent and security arrangements, have already begun. On Friday afternoon, senior Congress leader Harish Chaudhary, along with sitting MP and party candidate from Amritsar Gurjit Singh Aujla, visited Meera Kot to oversee the rally preparations. Due to the VVIP movement, additional security measures are being implemented.
Over 1,000 security personnel from the Punjab Police will be on duty, supplemented by Rahul Gandhi's personal security detail. The increased VVIP movements in Punjab indicate a ramp-up in election activities. Recently, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, visited Amritsar. Additionally, senior Congress leader and former Minister Sachin Pilot toured Amritsar to support Aujla.
With the election date rapidly approaching, the Congress party is pulling out all the stops to ensure a strong finish to its campaign. The party's high command has been meticulously planning these events, ensuring a comprehensive approach to reaching voters in the final days before the polls while heating up the election atmosphere in Punjab with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi’s rallies.
Meanwhile, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge's visit to the state is yet to be finalized. Sachin Pilot and other star campaigners are already active, with Pilot, on Friday, addressing rallies in Balachaur and Ropar in support of Vijay Inder Singla.
To ensure the success of these rallies, the Congress high command is meticulously planning and preparing. Congress’ national general secretary KC Venugopal had visited Punjab on May 18, meeting with candidates from various constituencies to gather feedback and strategize. Senior leader Harish Chaudhary visited Patiala on May 23 to finalize plans. Concurrently, AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also expected to intensify his activities in Punjab after May 25 — the polling date in Delhi.
The Congress party's strategy in Punjab revolves around leveraging the popularity of its star campaigners to galvanize support. Rahul Gandhi's visit is seen as a significant move to boost the morale of party workers and strengthen the party's grassroots presence. The selection of Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala for the initial rallies underscored the party's focus on key constituencies with substantial voter bases.
As the political temperature rises, Punjab is set to witness a flurry of high-profile visits and rallies, with major leaders from both Congress and other parties actively campaigning to garner support.
