The Congress on Friday released a poster of senior party leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the Barnala rally on February 28, showing him holding a pickaxe and wearing a gamcha — a traditional towel. Former minister and current Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh shared the poster on the social media, projecting Rahul as a MGNREGA worker.The rally is being held as part of the party’s MGNREGA Bachao Sangram.The BJP-led Centre recently replaced the UPA-era rural job plan with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.The Congress rally is also being seen as an attempt by the faction-ridden party to put up a united show ahead of the Assembly polls next year. Rahul’s scheduled visit comes amid heightened political activity in the state, with the BJP planning a mega rally in Moga next month, likely to be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.The SAD is organising Assembly constituency-wise rallies while ruling AAP is holding state-level events to highlight its achievements under the anti-drug drive Yudh Nashian Virudh.The Congress has chosen Barnala, located in the Malwa region, which has 69 of 117 Assembly seats in the state.‘Focus on AAP stronghold’Malwa is currently considered an AAP stronghold. However, Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon had defeated AAP’s Harinder Singh Dhaliwal in the Barnala bypoll held in November 2024. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring held a meeting with party leaders in Barnala with regard to the preparations for the rally.Former Rajpura MLA Hardial Kamboj has been appointed the in-charge for Barnala district for the rally.Warring said they would take up all major political issues during the rally.“The rally will help us spread awareness among people. Rahul ji has always raised the voice of the common people and never worked with any hidden agenda. We are focusing on the Malwa region, which is considered the AAP stronghold,” he added.He alleged that the law and order had deteriorated in the state and accused the BJP-led Centre of evading responsibility while waiting for an opportunity to impose the President’s rule.On the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, he alleged that the BJP-led Centre was “trying to manipulate voter” lists ahead of elections.Navjot accuses Warring of shady property dealchandigarh: Expelled Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Friday alleged that Punjab unit president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had purchased 100 acres of land in Zirakpur, 60 acres of which was “illegally taken from innocent people using forged signatures and thumbprints”.Denying the allegations, Warring said he did not consider it necessary to comment on her statement.In a social media post, Navjot Kaur said, “Raja Warring, please come to the court and answer how you purchased 100 acres of land in Zirakpur.”“You were only able to purchase 40 acres with your looted money, and you illegally took away 60 acres from innocent people using forged signatures and thumbprints…” she added.
