JULY 9- Congress president Sonia Gandhi wants the party to hardsell the Food Security Ordinance ahead of the Assembly elections in five states and the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Sonia has convened a meeting on Saturday of all senior leaders, including general secretaries and core group members at her 10, Janpath residence to discuss quick implementation of the scheme intended to benefit millions. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also be present at the meeting. But the sub-text of the meeting is to derive maximum electoral benefit out of the bigticket project, which is dear to Sonia’s heart.
Sources said the party machinery in different states has been asked to hardsell the food security programme and expose the “anti-poor” stance of the Opposition.
Sources said the party brass is giving top billing to the food security programme and hopes that schemes such as MGNREGA, RTI, RTE and farmers’ loan waiver too, will pay elector al dividends. Crucial assembly elections are scheduled to be held this year in Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram and the Congress wants to project its pro-poor face with the implementation of the food security programme.
Sources said several states including Karnataka, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar could see early roll out of the programme. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the programme will be launched on August 20, the birth anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
