Why can’t we shift BJP’s 5% vote to Congress in Gujarat? Asks Rahul Gandhi to cadre

Ahmedabad, 3 October 2013

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today morning arrived at Ahmedabad airport and began his two-day Gujarat visit as part of the Lok Sabha election preparations, by paying visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati ashram.

After his half-an-hour in the ashram, Rahul wrote in th visitor’s book, “Its always an honour for me to come to the ashram. I am a follower of Gandhi and his ideas. Thank you,” Rahul wrote in the visitor’s book at the ashram.

Rahul later reached Gujarat Congress headquarters and met party men from south and central Gujarat and Ahmedabad. Gujarat Congress incharge Gurudas Kamat who is accompanying Rahul during Gujarat visit was the only top rank leader present there. None of the state party leader was present during this interaction.

Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi described this interaction as Rahul’s endeavor to connect to party cadre directly.

Insiders told DeshGujarat that Rahul asked the question that why Congress party was unable to fill the gap of five percent vote in Gujarat?

It should be mentioned here that in the last assembly elections in Gujarat, the BJP’s vote share was 47.9 per cent against Congress’s 38.9, the difference being 9 per cent. Compared to 2007, the difference was down by 0.49 per cent. If Congress could snatch away 5% vote from the BJP, Congress could be at 44.9 and and BJP 42.9%.

Rahul was of opinion that people had not distanced from Congress actually, but Congress leaders had distanced themselves from people.

Rahul spent time with party’s IT team and asked to build similar team upto block level. Rahul asked youth workers that they would get chance in the party and they should work without any fear.

Rahul later reached Gujarat University convention hall to address the national executive of NSUI. He is later scheduled to meet the media club members.