Team Kishor at work, Rahul too gets an image makeover
Congress launches helpline number for party workers to reach out to Rahul; in a first, Punjab unit office-bearers ask questions or give suggestions through draw of lots
It is not just Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh who is donning the “aam aadmi” tag as Punjab gets battle-ready for the upcoming assembly polls.
Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor is giving Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi too an image makeover as he scripts the party’s poll strategy ahead of elections.
To make Rahul more accessible, the party announced a helpline number (9878985019) at an interaction of MLAs, former MLAs, district presidents, block presidents and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) office-bearers with the Congress vice-president at a marriage palace at Zirakpur on Saturday.
The Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) --- the team of Kishor --- held the interaction through a draw of lots among the nearly 2,500 Congressmen to ensure fair play and Rahul walked up to the person asking a question or giving suggestion.
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He welcomed the suggestion from a district president that the party should announce its candidates at least six months in advance and all sections --- youth, women and communities --- should get due representation.
Not only is IPAC liasoning with media in Punjab for managing Amarinder’s campaign, Kishor ensured that Rahul held informal interaction with editors of media organisations earlier in the day and later with reporters.
The corporate-style management of the workers’ meeting did not go down well with some senior leaders, who had to get registered after dialling a number at the entry gate of the venue with the IPAC team member. However, winds of change are blowing in the grand old party as many leaders thronged the “selfie” corner for pictures.