Congress’ mismanagement around Rahul Gandhi event; Candidates wasting time at Airport

Today 4:00 pm, campaigning for the second phase in Assam will come to an end. All 15 constituencies in Barak Valley will go for polls on April 1, 2021. In such a scenario, all candidates are going all guns blazing to finish last moment campaigning.

Independent candidate Dilip Kumar Paul is doing a massive procession in Silchar while BJP candidates in respective constituencies are connecting with their voters. Many high profile campaigners have also come to Barak Valley to campaign to the BJP candidates.

On the other hand, a national political party like the Indian National Congress has isolated most candidates far away from their respective constituencies. On the eve of the elections, a mismanagement of massive scale has jeopardise the entire last moment preparations.

Initially it was announced that party will hold a meeting at India Club ground where former AICC president Rahul Gandhi would address a gathering of women. Due to the rain last night, the event got cancelled at India Club. In the morning, Cachar Congress announced that Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will meet women at the Airport and then face the press.

Silchar candidate Tamal Kanti Banik, Borkhola’s Misbahul Islam, Lakhipur’s Mukhesh Pandey, Udharbond’s Ajit Singh, Dholai’s Kamakhya Prasad, Katlicherra’s Sanjeev Roy, South Karimganj’s Siddek Ahmed and many other high profile Congress leaders in Barak Valley were parading at the airport.

All the candidates reached airport at around 10:30 am and were waiting for Rahul Gandhi to land. At 1:30 pm, AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh and in charge of Assam elections announced that due to bad weather conditions, Rahul Gandhi’s special flight could not land at the Silchar Airport. “The special flight has been diverted to Guwahati,” said Singh. He added, “It is unfortunate that the women had to return without meeting Rahul Gandhi. But this natural condition is beyond our control.”

A commercial flight landed at the airport while Rahul Gandhi’s flight couldn’t. When asked about it, Singh replied, “Yes, the commercial flight landed and it could do so as it is a large aircraft. Rahul Gandhi’s special flight could not.”

Former minister Siddek Ahmed accepted that this mismanagement will damage last-moment preparations. Now with just two hours left before campaigning come to an end, how Congress cover up the ground lost due to mismanagement, remains to be seen.