Besides Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka, senior Congress leaders like Pilot, George, Pratapgarhi, Tharoor shine in Kerala

149

New Delhi: While Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have emerged as star campaigners, but there are several other senior leaders who also backed the party’s campaign in Kerala included KJ George, Sachin Pilot and Imran Pratapgarhi.

Congress top leadership including Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi campaigned extensively in the states of Kerala and Assam, but besides them senior party leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Pilot, Pratapgarhi campaigned extensively in Kerala.

Paety leaders said that Tharoor campaigned extensively in Kerala Assembly wise for several of the party candidates as one of the star campaigners for the party. His popularity was such that people joined the campaign in large numbers during his public meetings as well as in road shows.

Similarly, Pilot and George, who were named senior observers and observers respectively for Kerala also campaigned extensively in the southern state.

Pilot has been camping in Kerala and also travellings to Assam to campaign for several of the party candidates.

Despite a non Malyali, he along eith Pratapgarhi has been in major demand by several of the Congress candidates in Kerala.

Party leaders said that Pratapgarhi addressed almost 25 public meetings and several road shows in Kerala.

As Kerala has almost 26 per cent of Muslim community people, Pratapgarhi also interactednwith several of the religious heads.

He in knowledge city met the grand mufti and discussed several issues with him.

The party leaders indicated that Pratapgarhi. Who js also the chief of the minority department of the party was in huge demand not only bythe Congress candidates but also by the UDF alliance partners like IUML.

The party leaders also said that his popularity is not just in North India but also South India.

Even as the campaign is coming to an end yet people are requesting even ten minutes from Pratapgarhi in their assembly constituency.

Many of his poetry, in one of the most literate states of Kerala also went viral few days back which included ‘Keralam Jaiyukkum,  UDF Naiyukkum’.

Besides Kerala, Pratapgarhi also addressed nine public meetings in Assam. Even Pilot addressed several public meetings in Assam.

Similarly, George, who is a Power Minister in the adjoining Karnataka also addressed several public meetings.

George, who himself hails from Malyalam community and has deep roots in Kerala campaigned extensively for the party in the state.

Coming from Christian community, George also interacted with several of the Heads of the Churches and pastors.

As Christian have almost 18 per centmkf population in the state, George met with Arch Bishop Thomas Jessayan Netto, Cardinal Mar Cleemis, Bishop Dr Princeton Ben, Bishop Paul Mullassery, Jose George, Thomas Mar Thetos.

He also met with the Chief of the Indisn Pentecostal Church and others during his extensive campaigning in the state.

He also met several of the other Bishops including Bishop Mar Jose Pulickal, Bishop Mathew, Orthodox Church, Tinu Pastor Timothious, Bhadrasanam, Mar Mathew Moolakkattu, Knanaya Catholic, Jacobite Thirumeni Rev Baselious, Puthencru.

Congress is looking to make a return to power in the state by defeating the LDF in the April 9 polls.

The LDF led by Pinarayi Vijayan had completed two consecutive term in the state by breaking the jinx of rotational LDF and UDF government after each five year.