Congress' return to Ajmal Khan Park shows shift in strategy

NEW DELHI: Desperate to bounce back in the Capital where it suffered its worst defeat in the December 2013 assembly polls, the Congress has decided to go back to its roots. The party has zeroed in on what was the political hotspot of the post-Independence era and held political mindspace right through the 1970s and 80s - Ajmal Khan Park in Karol Bagh.

On March 30, Congress president and UPA-II chairperson Sonia Gandhi will seek public support for re-election from here in what is probably seen as the party’s final attempt to gain some lost ground and unleash a counter-attack on the “Modi factor” and AAP.

The venue is in the New Delhi parliamentary constituency , adjoining areas of Chandni Chowk and West Delhi constituencies. These areas are inhabited by mostly middle and upper middle class voters , mostly BJP vote banks.

A series of rallies had been held in the run-up to the 2013 assembly polls at venues ranging from the much sought after Ramlila Maidan and North East Delhi’s Shastri Park to Mongolpuri in Northwest and Dakshinpuri in deep South. These, however, had failed miserably in stirring up public sentiment in favour of Congress.

The rallies were held in and around resettlements, slums and unauthorized colonies known to be traditional Congress strongholds that switched loyalty to AAP. The choice of Ajmal Khan Park also aims at quelling the impression that the Congress draws its strength only from the weaker sections.

The party now plans to launch its salvage operation from a mega stage being constructed at Ajmal Khan Park, a central venue for political functions in the Delhi of yesteryears. Senior leaders recall that not only was that a different political era but even the demographics were different. The place where the venue stands was the heart of a city then, housing a mix of Punjabi refugee families from Pakistan and the original Dilliwallas of the Walled City. Migrants from all over lived here but the influx was not so heavy.

With Delhi’s quick expansion in the nineties, Ajmal Khan Park lost its significance as a hunting ground for votes. Political functions shifted to venues where the vote-banks lay in south and east. Ramlila Ground though continued to be a popular choice.

Today Ajmal Khan Park is listed as worth visiting only for its fountain and green landscape in a crowded commercial and residential belt called Karol Bagh. It’s also a popular wedding venue. In fact, for Sunday’s rally, Congress had to let go a part of the park which is booked for a marriage function that day. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arvinder Singh says: “There is space for over 20,000 here and we hope to see it packed when the UPA president speaks. This park was known for its political rallies in the past and we hope to reach out to all of Delhi from his middle class hub.”

On Thursday, pradesh office-bearers and ex-MLAs were rushing around making arrangements. It is clear that the contest is tough. The Modi rally at Shastri Park is the new benchmark which the Congress will try to better.