In what could be seen as an attempt to counter the massive outreach programme by volunteers from Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) on Wednesday kick-started a ‘NRI Campaign Bus’ from Delhi in the middle of Lok Sabha elections.

The 45-seater customised bus was flagged off by IOC chairman Sam Pitroda outside the AICC headquarters in Delhi. The bus, which will carry IOC leaders and members, will criss-cross Punjab, Haryana and the constituencies of other North Indian states which will go to polls in the remaining three phases of Lok Sabha elections, sources say.

“This bus is an idea of the NRIs, working in all over the world, who have their origin in Punjab and Haryana. They have their friends, relatives and forefathers. They have an emotional connect with their home land. They will go to village after village carrying the message of the Congress party. They will reach out to large number of people, convince the people to vote for the grand old party in this election,” said Pitroda while speaking to DNA.