Cong seeks to make ERCP a poll issue in Rajasthan

Apparently hoping for a rich electoral dividend, Congress has made it clear that it will make the ERCP (Eastern Rajasthan Canal project) a big issue in the forthcoming assembly poll in the state which is scheduled to take place in November/December this year.

Congress has decided to organise a ‘Padyatra’ (foot march) in all the 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan in protest against what the party claimed ‘betrayal’ by the BJP-led NDA government at the centre on this issue.

‘’This padyatra will continue for five days and will cover all the 13 districts in the region,’’ said a senior Rajasthan Congress leader in Jaipur on Sunday.

He said that the ‘padyatra’ would begin on September 25 and conclude on September 29 after covering Alwar, Karauli, Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Baran, Tonk, Bundi, Dausa, Jaipur, Ajmer and Dhoulpur districts.

According to the sources, Congress leaders from these 13 districts had asked the party leadership to corner the BJP on the issue of ERCP.

‘’The cente had promised that the ERCP would be launched in these districts, but it has not fulfilled the promise,’’ said the Congress leader.

These 13 districts were electorally very crucial for any party as there were 83 assembly seats in these districts. In the 2018 assembly poll, the Congress had bagged as many as 49 seats while the independents had won on eight seats. BJP was unable to open its account in four of these districts.

Congress leaders feel that the ERCP issue is very sensitive and close to the people. ‘’We can put the BJP on the back foot on this issue…the people of the region had been desperately awaiting completion of the Project which would have solved many of their problems, but it did not happen,’’ the Congress leader added.