With the BJP stepping up its election campaign through ‘parivartana yatra’ Jharkhand Congress, part of the ruling coalition (with JMM and RJD), has decided to seek people’s feedback for its manifesto for the Assembly poll later this year.

The state unit of the Congress started its ‘Jan Samvad Abhiyan” on Friday in Ranchi and Bokaro and senior leaders have been entrusted for all the five divisions of the state — Kolhan, Santhal Pargana, North Chhotanagpur, South Chhotanagpur and Palamu.

“It would be held in several phases, in the first phase which began on Friday we will be gradually covering 33 assembly constituencies wherein senior party leaders will camp in the divisions and hold meeting with general masses through street corner gathering and also in public functions. The aim is to listen to both grievances and suggestions of the common masses,” said state Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha.

The Congress leader said that they have deliberately selected 33 Assembly constituencies where they are confident of registering victories.

“In 2019 we had contested in 31 Assembly constituencies notching up victories in 17. We have selected mostly these constituencies in the first phase. Gradually we will be covering all the 81 Assembly constituencies in the next phases,” said Sinha.

“The feedbacks, complaints and suggestions will not only be studies and incorporated in our manifesto but a copy of it will be shared with our alliance partner JMM, especially chief minister Hemant Soren,” added Sinha.

“We are aware of the BJP using its massive resources to create narrative against the ruling coalition government. We need to go to the masses to inform people of the positive work done by our government. Chief minister Hemant Soren and JMM MLA Kalpana Soren have been doing it already and we would like to also feel the pulse of the masses through a mass outreach program,” said a senior Congress leader.

Congress state president Keshav Mahato will be looking after the Kolhan division planning public contact program in the Assembly seats.

“Kolhan division has assumed significance with the former chief minister and veteran JMM leader Seraikela Champai Soren defecting to BJP recently. We need a senior leader to plan strategy there,” said the Congress leader.