Congress president Rahul Gandhi will decide on both pre- and post-poll regional alliances ahead of next year's general elections, the party said on Sunday, prompting BJP to call the move a "suicide bombing."
Rahul's role was announced after a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body. Most of the 240 present members of an extended CWC also voted to declare Rahul as the prime contender to lead a grand alliance, still in the works.
Rahul said a committee would be formed soon to strategise on alliances.
BJP's Sambit Patra said that the meeting was of Congress' "non-working committee", and in its preparations to take on the ruling party in 2019, it is turning into a suicide bomber. "The party is now aspiring for 150 seats [from the current 48], and they want to make Rahul Gandhi the PM. By doing that, they declared they are a regional party," Patra said.
"While PM Modi is backing growth and development in the country, Sonia Gandhi's only aim is to back her son. This is Congress Darbaari Committee. Congress has decided not to allow growth. All negative decisions were taken today," he said.
Earlier, former Union Minister P Chidambaram, who spoke on Congress' fighting chances, said that there were "more than a dozen" states where the party was up for a one-on-one fight with another party.
"In most of these states, the party will have to face BJP, and in some, regional parties," he said. While Chidambaram did not mention it, states where Congress has a fighting chance include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The senior leader said that if Congress prepares well, it could win 150 seats in these states, said a party source. Alliances with "like-minded parties" could then provide the push the party will need. He added that the party could depend on 120 seats from regional alliances, said party sources.
Chidambaram, party sources added, said that the electorate is looking up to Congress as an alternative in 2019, and the party must work towards fulfilling his aspiration.
His speech at the CWC meeting echoed some of the points he had made during the launch of his book early this year.
NCP, DMK, RJD and Left parties have somewhat expressed willingness to be with UPA, but getting leaders like Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on board will be easier said than done.
BATTLE FOR 2019
ALSO AT CWC MEET
- UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said reverse countdown of Modi govt has begun. Cong has to rescue people from a dangerous regime, she said
- Former PM Manmohan Singh rejected PM Modi’s ‘culture of constant self-praise and jumlas’ as against solid policy framework
- Cong prez Rahul Gandhi reminded everyone of Cong role as the voice of India, of its responsibility of present and future
THE COUNTERS
- BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the meeting was of Congress’ ‘non-working committee’.
- He said Congress is turning into a suicide bomber. It declared today that it is a regional party by aspiring for 150 seats, he said.
- While PM Modi is backing growth and development in the country, Sonia Gandhi’s only aim is to back her son, he said.
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 "Rahul Gandhi and (right) Sambit Patra")
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