Rahul Gandhi took on the state government for failing to make timely payments to farmers for the procurement of wheat. (File Photo)
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was on a visit to Chandigarh on Saturday, during which he discussed election strategy with party workers and leaders from Punjab. The state will go to polls next year.
The Congress, which has been out of power in the state for two straight terms, will focus on farmers and youth, party sources said. But Mr Gandhi also told the leaders to stay away from internal politics, which had led to factionalism and had been a key factor in the party's poor showing in elections.
Earlier this month, the party's senior leadership had sent out a strong message to discourage factionalism. It had expelled two leaders -- former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh and former lawmaker Jagmeet Singh Brar -- who had been hitting out at state Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh, the man the party is banking on to lead them to a victory in the assembly polls next year.
On Saturday, to further counter factionalism, Mr Gandhi reportedly said the names of candidates will be announced well in advance, unlike 2012, and at least 35 to 40 per cent of the tickets will be given to the young generation.
Mr Gandhi also asked the leaders to go out in the field to connect with the rural masses - a move that is expected to counter the growing influence of the Aam Aadmi Party in the state, which has its big support base among the urban voters. In the 2014 General elections, AAP had won four seats from Punjab and has emerged as a strong third player.
Addressing media, Mr Gandhi later said, "The Congress party is united... We want to give Punjab a government which will take care of the future of the youth and work for the betterment of the farmers."
Mr Gandhi took on the state government for failing to make timely payments to farmers for the procurement of wheat. He said the farmers of Punjab "feed the entire country, but they are not getting their due".