Don't leave an inch for the opposition: Rahul Gandhi

RAIPUR: In a bid to motivate grass root Congressmen, the scion of the Gandhi family, Rahul, on Wednesday promised to bring about a big change in the working of the Congress post Lok Sabha polls by giving a voice to the party workers.

Virtually admitting to the VVIP culture prevailing in the party, Rahul Gandhi said, "Be prepared for a big change as no one is more important in the Congress than its worker." Addressing party workers at Balbeer Juneja Indoor stadium, Rahul said, "After the elections, I would ensure that workers are heard in the party and their views taken seriously."

Reiterating that Congress was not merely a political party but a thought ("a soch and a vichaar dhara"), that could not be wiped out, Rahul, in an obvious reference to Narendra Modi's statement, said, "Those who think that Congress can be finished would be wiped out".

Rahul said after winning the elections, the main focus of the Congress would be the 70 crore Indians who are now above the poverty line but still not part of the country's middle class. "Our policies in the past 5 to 10 years have helped get crores of people out of poverty. Now we will ensure that these 70 crore people are uplifted to the middle class," he said. Describing various initiatives of MGNREGA, RTI and Adhaar Card as tools empowering people, Rahul exhorted party workers to make people aware of them. "I've given you the tools to win elections. Spread the word and explain to the people what these initiatives mean for them and I assure that no one can defeat you," he said.

Dubbing the forthcoming general elections as a new challenge for the Congress, Rahul urged workers to spread out to every nook and corner of the state and ensure the party's victory on all the 11 seats. "We will not give an inch to the opposition," he said.

Earlier, the Congress VP, as part of his on going campaign to take views of the common people for the party's election manifesto, held a closed door meeting with representatives of the panchayats and farmers. Senior state leaders and office bearers were also present at the meeting.

State leaders who attended the meeting included AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, AICC general secretary BK Hariprasad, former Chhattisgarh Congress party president Charan Das Mahant, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi, state party president Bhupesh Baghel, leader of opposition in the assembly TS Singhdeo.