Lesson learnt: Cong ups the ante, to focus on Jat, Muslim-dominated seats

It is as they say: ‘Once bitten twice shy.’ With an eye to retain its vote share, the Congress seems to be making elaborate plans to launch an aggressive campaign in the 40-odd seats dominated by Jats, Muslims and Scheduled Castes in the national Capital, which had gone to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the last Assembly elections. 

The Congress faced their  worst drubbing in the last Assembly polls as it was reduced to a humiliating eight seats. 

A series of measures for those living in unauthorised colonies have also been planned. 

Former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that  the one-year of President’s rule which had put a stop on the major development projects  was going to work in favour of the party in the state elections.

“The party has asked all ticket aspirants to submit their application forms  latest by December 20,” said DPCC senior member.

Though the party has decided to reach out to each and every community separately, it is busy devising a strategy to ensure its candidates are well informed about the caste equations in their respective seats.

The city has 17 per cent SC voters, 15 per cent Muslims, 10 per cent each of Pundit and Punjabi 

community, 8.34 per cent Vaishs, 5.31 per cent Jats and 4 per cent Gujjars. There are over 30 seats where the SC vote share is more than 17 per cent. Of  these 30 SC seats, 12 are in the reserved category. In 16 seats, the Muslim comprise  more than 12 per cent vote share.

Senior local Congress leader said besides winning eight seats in the last Assembly elections,  the party stood on second position in as many as 16 seats. The party stood at third position in 41 seats and fourth in the remaining five seats.

A senior leader said that the party was chalking out an aggressive strategy to retain its traditional vote bank in the 12 reserved seats. 

Of the 12 reserved seats, the party could  retain just one seat. It was the newbie AAP which bagged as many as nine reserved seats.