The Congress is set to conduct a door-to-door campaign, the Lok Samparka Abhiyan, from October 2 to November 19 to raise funds for the party, distribute publicity material on national, State and local issues, and also to connect with first-time voters.
As per the guidelines issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the aim is to establish one crore booth sahayogis (helpers) across the country with 10 sahayogis for every polling booth. Each sahayogi is being given the task of establishing a connect with 20 to 25 households in every booth. All relevant data and information collected on voters and donors will be synergised with INC Shakti, a project which directly connects a ground-level party activist with Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The party also aims to raise funds by involving workers all the way to the booth level in a transparent and systematic manner through this campaign.
As per the guidelines, cash or cheques have to be collected, receipts issued and an entry made in a register. Details of the funds raised this way will go to the AICC treasurer through the State unit.
A similar approach has been adopted with the booth sahayogis. They are tasked with maintaining a daily rapport with the households assigned to them and their performance will be monitored by the Block Congress Committee and Area Booth Coordinators. These activists will become the nodal point for the grievances and issues in respect of the households. Sahayogis are specifically tasked to reach out to new voters aged between 18 and 24 years and enroll them as Congress workers.
“This campaign will now be an annual affair and will be conducted from January 1 to 28 every year. However, keeping in mind the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the campaign, along with fund collection drive this year, shall be conducted from October 2 to November 19,” said an AICC office-bearer.
In Maharashtra, the State unit of the party is set to unveil the second leg of its Jan Sangharsh Yatra in North Maharashtra. The unit has also been directed to conduct the exercise in the remaining rest of the parts of the State, said the office-bearer.