This Article is From Sep 17, 2013

Rahul Gandhi returns to Rajasthan, this time on BJP turf

Rahul Gandhi returns to Rajasthan, this time on BJP turf

File photo of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi

Jaipur: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has returned to Rajasthan for the second time in two weeks, as he aggressively reaches out to the party's traditional voters in the tribal belt.

The 43-year-old Congress leader is also scheduled to stop over at BJP strongholds of Jhalawar and Baran to launch two power plants and an irrigation project. BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and her son Dushyant represent those areas in the state assembly and Parliament.

Last week, both Narendra Modi, now named BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, and Rahul Gandhi visited the state.

While Mr Modi tore into the Congress, sarcastically coining an 'alphabet of corruption', Rahul Gandhi took an indirect dig as he told a large gathering in Udaipur, "I want to crush my dreams and make your dreams mine."

Highlighting the Food Security Bill championed by the UPA government, he had also coined a new war cry for supporters; "Poori roti khayenge, 100 din kaam karenge, dawaiee lenge aur Congress ko jitayenge" (Eat full roti, work for 100 days, receive free medicines and vote for Congress).

The Congress hopes the schemes will be big vote-getters in the general elections and Assembly elections in five states in November.

The Congress number 2 is expected to address another rally in Baran later in the day.

Rajasthan, which is scheduled to elect a new 200-member assembly before the end of the year, is likely to see a fierce battle between the incumbent Congress and the BJP, as a precursor to national elections due in May. Later this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are also expected to visit the state for various events.

Many expect the 2014 general elections to be a Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi battle.
Senior Congressmen, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, have indicated that Mr Gandhi is likely to be Prime Minister should the party win a third term in next year's elections. But he is seen as a reluctant leader, focused more on welfare and building his party at the grassroots.
 
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