Rahul Gandhi to Launch Congress’ Punjab Poll Campaign on Nov 4

Attacking the Bhagwant Mann government, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (Organisation) Venugopal said the law and order situation is "completely broken" in Punjab, and it is becoming the epicentre of the drug mafia. "Our goal is to win Punjab, save Punjab from all this evil. The Congress party is very much confident that we are going to form the government in Punjab," said Venugopal, who arrived in Chandigarh on Sunday evening.

He is expected to hold a series of meetings with senior Punjab Congress leaders, district unit presidents and other leaders to discuss the preparations for the assembly polls and Rahul Gandhi's Punjab visit. "Our leader Rahul Gandhi is coming here on November 4. There will be a mammoth rally," he said, adding he has a great connect with the people of Punjab.

"Now, all over India people are completely going along with his vision and ideas, especially Gen-Z, youngsters. I think Punjabis are also looking forward for November 4," he further said. Amid a raging row over Mallikarjun Kharge's "baap" remarks, allegedly against the prime minister, Venugopal told reporters that the Congress chief only referred to Narendra Modi's ideological father, the RSS.

"This is an ideological attack he has done, not a personal attack," he asserted and lashed out at the BJP over the alleged "purification" ceremony conducted by a right-wing group after Kharge addressed a gathering in Uttarakhand in August. Congress general secretary and party's in-charge for Punjab, Sachin Pilot said the entire party is united for election preparations. He also attacked the AAP government over the drug menace and law and order issues.