Congress leaders discuss party's strategy for Chhattisgarh assembly polls, decide to fight polls unitedly

Top leaders of the Congress on Wednesday discussed the party's strategy and poll preparedness in Chhattisgarh, where assembly elections are due later this year.

The meeting, held at the AICC headquarters here, was chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and party state in-charge Kumari Selja were among the leaders who attended the meeting.

Kharge said party members will work together to keep bringing change in the lives of the people of Chhattisgarh.

'''Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh' (Building a new Chhattisgarh) is not just a slogan for us, it is a goal for the state's progress and social justice. The people of Chhattisgarh and their unwavering faith in the Congress party will keep the stream of development flowing,'' he said in a tweet in Hindi.

During the meeting, deliberations were also held on the Congress' strategy going forward, party sources said.

They said Gandhi told the leaders at the meeting to take to people the welfare schemes initiated by the state government and what more it intends to do for them.

Everyone agreed to work unitedly and felt that this unification was seen in Chhattisgarh more than anywhere else, they added.

Addressing a press conference later, AICC general secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh Kumari Selja said Kharge told party leaders that ''the Constitution is paramount for us''.

''The BJP has no agenda other than religious issues. They do negative politics in the name of religion and caste. But we have an agenda of working and uniting people and we have our ideology and we will work according to that,'' she said.

According to Selja, Gandhi stressed the need to take all sections of society together.

Gandhi always wants to connect people and spread love and harmony, Selja said.

''Everyone said the same thing that we will work together. We will fight the elections together,'' she said.

The Congress leader said party workers are undergoing training for the election campaign.

On the one hand, the achievements of the Chhattisgarh government will be highlighted and guidance of the top party leadership will be sought on the other.

Congress Chhattisgarh unit chief Mohan Markam and ministers, including T S Singh Deo, also attended the meeting.

Taking to Twitter after the meeting, Baghel said the Congress is ready for the assembly polls and the meeting discussed the changes being brought in people's lives through the 'Nava Chhattisgarh' model.

Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal exuded confidence that his party will return to power in Chhattisgarh.

''INC's Chhattisgarh government has presented a model for the entire country to replicate. We had fruitful discussions about the next steps we should take and we are confident that we will return to power in the state,'' he said in a tweet.