Congress President Rahul Gandhi launched the election campaigning in Rajasthan on Saturday and assured the party workers that no “parachute candidate” will get a ticket in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Gandhi, addressing the rally of party workers at the Ramlila ground in Jaipur said, “Before every election, parachute candidates come and take tickets. This time I guarantee that not one parachute candidate will get tickets. I will cut strings of parachute candidates.” He added, “Congress party workers will be heard and will get the tickets.”
Gandhi was accompanied by All India Congress Committee general secretaries Ashok Gehlot and Avinash Pande, Rajasthan Congress supremo Sachin Pilot and other state leaders.
Gandhi asserted that he is confident that Congress will win Assembly elections in the three states– Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh– where the polls are due later this year.
Congress chief said, “Party men are working on the ground and their voice will be heard by the Congress government formed after the elections.”
He asked his party workers to apprise the masses of “corruption in Rafale deal”. He brought the issue of Rafale “scam” alleging, “UPA govt had bought an aeroplane for Rs 540 crore while PM Modi himself gave Rs 1600 crore to the French company for 1 aircraft.”
Gandhi added, “According to the new contract, the PM Modi himself bought each fighter jet for Rs 16,000 crore, over three times the price.” Congress chief asserted, “The fighter jet will now be made in France instead. Indians will not benefit from employment. Only Narendra Modi benefits from this contract.”
He also laid scathing attacks on the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and accused, “CM Raje says lakhs of youths have got jobs but youth know the truth. Youths work hard but can’t get jobs because your name is not Anil Ambani. He can get contract worth crores, he can snatch your jobs, but you can’t do anything.”
Gandhi came to Ramlila ground for addressing the party stalwarts, after coming from a 13-km roadshow. He travelled in a specially designed bus and was followed by party workers on bikes.