With Narendra Modi-led BJP making corruption, price rise and internal security major planks in the run up to next Lok Sabha elections, Congress is readying its media strategy.
A five-day workshop was organized by AICC this week to train as many as 60 spokespersons on issues rangnig from internal security, price rise, corruption to counter the opposition's attack on alleged policy paralysis and other issues and effective media presence to dissemminate the party's views on crucial matters.
Talking to reporters, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken said the participants from different states were trained in various subjects and the aim was to equip them with information and strategy to effectively articulate the party's views on issues.
The meeting, addresed by party vice President Rahul Gandhi, Planning Commission Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, its member Syeda Hameed, former Union Minister Mukul Wasnik, former Home Secretary G K Pillai, noted journalists Kumar Ketkar, former NAC members N C Saxena, Nikhil Dey and Harsh Mandar, historian Mridula Mukherjee and Chief Adviser, Food Security Viraj Patnaik, among others.
Addressing the workshop, Ketkar told the participants about Congress' contribution to creating an environment conducive to fight corruption through measures like the Right to Information.
There was one session called "The Politics of Media" in which the participants were given dos and don'ts of interacting with the news media.
Mock television debates, group discussions and lecture sessions by experts were organised during the workshop
The party is treating the Food Security Bill as a 'game changer' with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls and the workshop saw a special session devoted to chalking out a strategy to take the message of this 'historic' law to the people. The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of cash was also a major talking point during the programme.
Apart from Congress leaders, a number of experts were also were invited to the workshop.
