Ranchi, Feb. 8: The Congress today played the HEC card to woo voters in the Hatia Assembly constituency where the party has fielded Gopal Sharan Nath Shahdeo.

The party today brought Union heavy industries minister Santosh Mohan Dev to HEC to address a public meeting. The minister promised to revive the ailing public sector but in turn sought an assurance from the HEC workers that they will send the Congress candidate to the Assembly.

?Aap haath (party symbol) se haath milayiye aur phir dekhiye hum kya karte hain (Support Congress and see what we do for you),? he said, and assured that the Centre will not let HEC to close down. Dev exhorted the people to oust the NDA government in order to save the HEC.

HEC has been one of the major issues that the party has taken up. It finds mention in the party?s manifesto too.

Santosh Mohan Dev came down heavily on the NDA government for allegedly ignoring HEC.

?However, ever since the UPA government took charge at the Centre, it has been trying its best to revive the corporation,? he said.

Dev said the UPA government has set up a reconstruction committee which is going into all the aspects of revival of the ailing PSUs.

Addressing the gathering, Sahay said he will continue to work for the interests of the HEC, a promise which he had made during the Lok Sabha elections.