Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal during a high-level Congress meeting to review Assembly election preparedness in Uttarakhand and Manipur. (Img: X)
New Delhi: The Congress leadership on Tuesday stepped up its preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttarakhand and Manipur, holding separate high-level meetings to assess the political landscape, organisational readiness and key issues likely to shape the electoral contest. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge chaired the discussions at his official residence in New Delhi, with senior leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal among those in attendance.
The meetings took place shortly after the INDIA bloc rally in the national capital over allegations of vote theft, signalling the party's parallel focus on national political messaging and state-level election mobilisation.
The discussions covered the BJP's performance in both states, the Congress's organisational preparedness, regional political challenges and the strategy required to strengthen the party's electoral prospects ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled for early next year.
During the meeting with Uttarakhand Congress leaders, the party leadership reviewed the state's political situation and assessed the issues that could influence voter sentiment. The Congress focused its criticism on the BJP government's performance, with Kharge accusing the ruling party's double-engine government of failing to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people during its decade in power in the state.
Kharge pointed to concerns surrounding the law-and-order situation, women's safety and the absence of accountability, asserting that people were increasingly looking for a political alternative.
Unemployment, alleged examination paper leaks and the handling of the Ankita Bhandari murder case also emerged as major issues in the party's assessment. Venugopal alleged that these concerns had particularly affected young people and women, potentially creating significant political challenges for the ruling BJP.
The Congress general secretary also accused the state government of facilitating land transactions in favour of corporate enterprises despite environmental concerns. These issues are expected to remain central to the party's political outreach as it prepares to challenge the BJP in the hill state.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and senior party leader Harak Singh Rawat attended the meeting with the central leadership. Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, however, was absent. His personal statewide political yatra had reportedly caused unease among sections of the state Congress organisation.
Following the discussions with the Uttarakhand delegation, state leaders also met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The interactions form part of the party's broader effort to coordinate its central and state leadership, strengthen organisational cohesion and sharpen its campaign strategy before the elections.
The Congress leadership also held a separate meeting with party representatives from Manipur, where the continuing ethnic violence and the failure to restore lasting peace and normalcy dominated the discussions.
The situation in the northeastern state remains a major political and administrative challenge, with the Congress seeking to assess the impact of the prolonged unrest and the BJP government's handling of the crisis. The meeting focused on the prevailing political environment, the party's organisational preparedness and the strategy required to mobilise support ahead of the Assembly elections.
With Uttarakhand and Manipur both heading towards electoral contests early next year, the Congress is seeking to consolidate its state-level leadership, identify key public concerns and formulate a coordinated campaign against the BJP. The outcome of these internal consultations is expected to shape the party's election roadmap in the two states.
