The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday started a new statewide campaign called “Raijor Podulit, Raijor Congress” with the aim of preparing a people-centric manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections. The campaign was launched in Dibrugarh and the party introduced what it calls “Aspirational Boxes” that will be placed in different parts of the state to collect suggestions, demands and concerns from citizens.
The Congress leaders said that the party wants to prepare a document which directly reflects the needs and expectations of ordinary people. Senior leaders including APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, manifesto committee chairman Pradyut Bordoloi and several others were present during the launch event. Representatives from many community organisations from eastern Assam also attended the programme.
Speaking to media persons, Pradyut Bordoloi said that the main idea behind the initiative is to build a roadmap that can earn the trust of every community living in the state. He said that Congress workers will travel across the state and interact with citizens in markets, villages and public places. According to him, issues like salary, employment, livelihood and everyday difficulties need to be heard directly from the people rather than discussed only in political offices. He said the party wants to listen more and speak less during this phase of the campaign. 
APCC president Gaurav Gogoi said that the Congress wants to take its organisational work directly to the grassroots. He said the party started holding health camps in tea gardens from 30 November. From December, leaders will travel district-wise and meet different social groups such as tea workers, farmers, youths and labourers. By the end of the month, Congress teams will divide themselves into five groups covering Eastern Assam, Central Assam, Western Assam, Barak Valley and the hill districts.
He also said that opposition parties are planning a joint convention in January, which is expected to present a united political platform. Gogoi criticised the current government and said that governance has become one-sided and decisions are being taken centrally without public consultation.
During the launch programme, party leaders also collected feedback from community organisations about organisational issues and about improving the party’s engagement with local people. They said that these interactions will help Congress prepare a manifesto based on real situations instead of general political promises.
According to the party, around 4,000 “Aspirational Boxes” will be placed across Assam in markets, community halls, tea garden labour lines, bus stops, playgrounds and near educational institutions. People will be able to write their suggestions and drop them in these boxes. Party workers will later evaluate and compile them into the final manifesto and vision document. The campaign will also note urgent public concerns such as floods, tea garden wage issues, demands for Scheduled Tribe status, rural health problems, maternal mortality, child trafficking and the rise in conflict between humans and wild animals.
The party said that AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh will supervise the coordination of the campaign to ensure that the process continues smoothly in all districts.
