Advani lacks Vajpayee’s appeal: Cong

“Within four days after I quit as minister,I had 240 emails from people wanting to participate in our campaign. It happened in 2004 also,but this time it is much more,” says Ramesh,coordinator of the ruling party’s election- related affairs,told The Indian Express.

“We have no shortage of people because Rahul has ignited the Youth Congress and the NSUI. As for the increasing number of young professionals showing interest,it may have something to do with recession also,” he says,adding that the youth will be one of the important poll planks of the party as Rahul has emerged as a “youth icon”.

Obviously,the UPA government’s achievements will be a very important element of the Congress campaign. If the 2004 campaign was about “promises”,the one in 2009 will be about “delivery”.

“We were the only party to promise NREGA. In fact,our promise goes back to the Guwahati meeting of Congress chief ministers in April 2002. Now,the Left is tom-tomming it. We were again the only party to promise RTI,universal mid-day meal scheme. All these are very important stories to tell,” he says.

Ramesh,who was one of the key campaign managers of the party in the last general elections too,adds: “In 2004,we were the underdogs. Externally,we were written off. Internally,we were defeatist. Barring the Congress president,nobody believed we could do well. Her greatest contribution was to rally the party at the time of great despondency. She alone kept the flag flying.”

In 2004,the BJP also had a tremendous war chest “in terms of financial management” and a resourceful manager in Pramod Mahajan. “In 2009,we are much stronger despite anti-incumbency. The BJP also misses Vajpayee who used to add about 5 to 7 per cent of the votes. Advani is more divisive and lacks the broad-based appeal of Vajpayee,” says Ramesh.