NEW DELHI: The Congress 1 may decide to capture booths in the areas where its election prospects are bleak. This is one of the startling recommendations made by the ruling parties recently established five member panel charged with formulating election strategy.
The panel recommends resorting to booth capturing in specific pockets of Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar.
Headed by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh, the panel’s decision reflects the parties strategy about the coming Lok Sabha election. The panel has concluded that if the situation in the northern region of the country does favor the Congress I booth capturing in Certain constitutions would be the only way out.
The 543,000 booth committees, one for each poling booth, formed by the party are slated to be the instruments for booth capturing.
Aggressive younger elements in the party who are prepared to be unscrupulous are being preferred as booth committee members.
Other controversial recommendations are also being considered by the panel. The deployment of central forces by the Center Reserve Police Force and the border security force, and the posting of pro-government officers in critical areas are amongst the recommendations.
The first meeting of the panel was held at conveyor Arjun Singh’s Tughlak Road residence on July 8.
The thirty minute meeting was attended by panel members, Union Ministers for youth and Congress working committee members Tara Singh.
Home Minister Buta Singh attended the next meeting of the panel on July 10.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 28, 1989
