Gadgil stresses need to focus on comman man

Mumbai, May 17 (UNI) Re-orienting the current process of economic reforms and bringing into focus needs of the common man and poor would be essential if the Congress wanted to win a clear mandate from the people in the 2009 Parliamentary and State Assembly elections, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesman, Anant Gadgil said today.

Talking to reporters at the State Secretariat here, Mr Gadgil said unlike the NCP, the Congress was not promoting its second line rank and file. He said the 2009 assembly election will see the Congress in direct competition with the NCP in terms of vote share.

Mr Gadgil did not foresee any immediate fallout of Mayawati's huge win in the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh elections on Maharashtra politics. But, the Congress has to be cautious in the long run, he felt.

Mr Gadgil said normally out of the total vote percentage, 10 to 12 per cent voting is consolidated dalit vote. ''If the vote percentage increases to 15 per cent, the swing will be against congress,''he added.

According to him, Ms Mayawati sees Maharashtra as her next destination as the dalit leadership is divided here. ''Congress has to adopt a cautious approach to win the dalit votes,''he added.

Mr Gadgil lamented that benefits of SEZs are not being projected effectively to the beneficiaries. He said tradition of the Congress to hold discussions to frame policies, strengthen organisational structures and election results has come to a halt. ''We need to revive that tradition,''he added.

He said the party has to maintain a proper balance between new comers and the old gaurd and include them in the decision making.

Replying to a query on whether he had raised the issues at the party forum, he said there was no activity happening in the party as of now. ''I had written a detailed note on my views to AICC chief, Sonia Gandhi, a few days ago. I will be meeting other senior party leaders on this issue soon. In Pune, I met senior Congressmen and urged them to actively participate in reviving the party. But, the response was not overwhelming,'' he said.

Responding to another query, he said he had not spoken anything against the party but voiced his concern and views on the state of affairs of the state Congress.

UNI