With string of guarantees, Congress pins hopes on women voters to ride back to power

BENGALURU: After announcing 200 units of free power, 10 kg rice per individual in BPL families and Rs 2,000 per month for the woman head of the household, the Congress seems to be banking on women voters to see it through the electoral battle and ensure its victory.

Now, the party is planning to invite Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to assure women voters of the guarantees that it has already announced and is making preparations to organise a women’s rally.

Meanwhile, the party seems to be finding it difficult to find strong candidates for 16 of the 28 Assembly segments in Bengaluru and 15 of the 18 constituencies in the coastal region where it is hoping for a good result.

On the other hand, the Congress, which was hoping that those who deserted the party in 2019 would return, does not seem to have much hope now. While senior leaders like D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah had hoped that those who had left would return by Ugadi, the party is in a dilemma over announcing candidates for those constituencies with not much clarity on the party hoppers’ next move.

While leaders from other parties are joining the Congress, those who went out of the party to join the BJP, including incumbent ministers have not shown serious indication of rejoining the Congress.