Victory difficult but path for defeating BJP, RSS goes through Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi was in north Gujarat while he was launching the Sangathan Srijan Abhigyan

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reiterated that it is only the Congress party that is capable of defeating the BJP and RSS nationally and noted that the path to that victory "goes through Gujarat".

Underlining the importance that the party attaches to the state where it has been out of power since 1995, Rahul noted that the original foundation of Congress was laid in Gujarat and the state has given leaders like Mahatama Gandhi and Sardar Valabhbhai Patel.

Rahul Gandhi's comments came during an address at the launch of the Sangathan Srijan Abhigyan in Modasa town in Aravalli district of north Gujarat on Wednesday.

"This (a victory in Gujarat) seems like a difficult task but I am here to tell you that it is not that tough. It is easy for you and we will complete this task in Gujarat," he noted.

He added, "The entire country knows that only the Congress can defeat BJP-RSS. And if we want to defeat the RSS and the BJP in the country, the path for it goes through Gujarat…our ideology and party started from Gujarat."

Gandhi also spoke about how the party is planning to strengthen district efforts. He said that it has been decided that every district in Gujarat should be run by that particular district and not from Ahmedabad.

"District leaders should be strengthened and district presidents, especially, should be given responsibility and power. They should be strengthened, which we are starting now. The district president will not be a compromised candidate," he said.

"They will not run the district alone but with your (other local leaders and workers) help. But, the district will be run as per their (the district president’s) decision. The district (unit) will run according to the district committee’s decisions; no directions or candidates will come from the higher-ups," Rahul was further heard saying.

He also noted that several times Congress helps people win elections but they end up leaving Congress for another party after becoming the MP or MLA and stressed on better ways of choosing a candidate.