The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) is set to initiate a major public engagement drive across the state, aiming to directly connect with citizens and incorporate their voices into the party's future plans. Titled 'Ganosanjog Jatra', this mass outreach programme will commence on Saturday, as announced by the party's state president, Gaurav Gogoi, on Friday.
Direct Engagement for Manifesto Building
The core objective of this extensive campaign is to foster direct dialogue with citizens, stakeholders, and party workers. The Congress seeks to collect suggestions and gauge public opinion to shape its election manifesto, moving beyond closed-door deliberations to a more inclusive, grassroots-driven process.
A dedicated team will spearhead the initiative in the hill districts. This team will be led by former MP Ripun Bora, who chairs the APCC Election Management Committee. He will be joined by MLA Nurul Huda and Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur. Their focus will be on engaging with the people of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao to understand their specific aspirations and concerns.
Leadership Tours and Statewide Meetings
State Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi will actively participate in the programme, starting with engagements in Majuli and Dibrugarh. His itinerary is packed from December 21 to 24, where he will attend a series of meetings and public programmes across Dibrugarh, Makum, Dhemaji, and Lakhimpur districts.
Adding further weight to the campaign, AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh, will also hold a series of meetings across various locations in the state. This underscores the national party's focus on Assam and its commitment to a bottom-up approach in policy formulation.
'Aspiration Boxes' for Widespread Suggestion Collection
In a parallel and innovative effort to maximize public participation, the party has begun installing "Aspiration Boxes" throughout Assam's districts. The scale of this initiative is significant, with plans to place over 4,000 such boxes in high-footfall locations. These boxes will serve as physical repositories where any citizen can drop their written suggestions, ensuring that even those unable to attend public meetings can contribute their ideas.
This two-pronged strategy—combining direct leadership-led 'Jatras' with widespread static suggestion boxes—demonstrates the Congress's attempt to cast a wide net. The party aims to build its electoral platform based on the direct inputs of the Assamese people, marking a strategic shift towards a more participatory form of political engagement in the state.
