IT IS TIME the Congress reconciled with the fact that it not dominates the Opposition area, political events mentioned Monday in a pointy response to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s assertion, on the social gathering Chintan Shivir the day earlier than, that regional counterparts “lack the ideology” to tackle the BJP and RSS.
At a time when regional events have held the BJP again in a number of states, even because the Congress has failed, one in all its personal allies, the JMM, mentioned: “It is Rahul Gandhi’s self-assessment and he’s entitled to his opinion, however who gave him the authority to touch upon ideology? How are we working the social gathering with none ideology?”
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi with social gathering leaders Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot, Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad and others in the course of the concluding session of the social gathering’s ‘Nav Sankalp Shivir’, in Udaipur. (PTI Photo)
The JMM and Congress run a coalition authorities in Jharkhand. Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya mentioned: “The fact remains that it is these regional parties on which the Congress is dependent for a fight or a win, be it the JMM in Jharkhand or the RJD in Bihar.”
Speaking on the Chintan Shivir, Rahul mentioned the Congress was mounting an ideological resistance to the onslaught of the RSS, in contrast to regional events which “lack an ideology” and “have different approaches”.
The RJD, one other Congress ally, additionally known as Rahul’s assertion “unfortunate”. RJD MP Manoj Jha mentioned that had the previous Congress president been aware of the end result of ballot fights in opposition to the BJP, he would have realized “the ideological and electoral commitment that is brought by such regional outfits, which he said do not have the capacity” .
Jha additionally repeated RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav’s recommendation for the Congress: “There are 220-225 seats the place the BJP and Congress are in a direct combat. The Congress ought to go away the opposite areas to regional events and settle to the concept of a co-traveller.”
Leaders of Congress ally DMK most well-liked to not touch upon the problem. Several indicated they have been ready for the social gathering management’s stand to talk.
Recently, one other ally, CPM, had mentioned it was the Congress that had a disaster of ideology because it was flirting with “soft Hindutva” and was unable to tackle the challenges posed by the BJP. CPM basic secretary Sitaram Yechury, who is taken into account a votary of the Congress, mentioned at a celebration convention in Kochi: “Compared to the past, the Congress today has been considerably weakened. And many in the BJP and the RSS do not see thte Congress as a major threat. Because, any of its leaders, at any point of time, can leave the party to join the BJP.”
The TMC and AAP, which have dealt the BJP a couple of defeat, have been extra blunt. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev mentioned that “bereft of a narrative, face and organisation”, it was the Congress that was handing over seats to the BJP on a platter, in locations the place the 2 events are in a direct combat.
“We aren’t contesting each seat, however the BJP is powerful wherever the Congress is the first opposition. The BJP has not been in a position to defeat MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), or for that matter YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh), to call just a few. In that sense, the BJP is blissful to have the Congress as a nationwide social gathering as a result of it fits them. The actuality is, the Congress is unable to defeat the BJP,” Dev, who stop the Congress in August final 12 months, mentioned.
The TMC has drifted away from the Congress after as soon as having been a constituent of the UPA.
AAP asks how the grand outdated social gathering thought it was able to combat communal forces, on condition that it stays beset with infighting. “Even in states like Madhya Pradesh, which voted the Congress to energy, its candidates put themselves up on the market. The social gathering has no presence in main states like UP and Tamil Nadu. And what’s nationwide and regional? For years, it has been a junior accomplice to events just like the SP, DMK,” AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh mentioned.
Talasani Srinivas Yadav, a senior chief of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and a minister, mentioned: “Rahul Gandhi ought to first contemplate the situation of his social gathering throughout India after which make such feedback… His standing has been uncovered within the Uttar Pradesh election outcomes. “
Refusing to return on report, a pacesetter of the YSR Congress Party (fashioned after a cut up within the Congress) mentioned: “Did we not decimate the Congress, which is a national party, in Andhra Pradesh? If we can take on one national party, we are strong enough to take on any other national party. The Congress is in no position to decide who can fight the BJP. In fact, we think only regional parties can oppose the BJP.”
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty mentioned: “The results that regional parties have been showing in their respective states is evidence enough of the efficacy of these parties. From Delhi to Kerela, regional parties are being trusted by the people and given more and more responsibilities.”
The Congress’s sluggish eclipse confirmed “it is itself fighting an ideological battle”, Mohanty added. “In all chance, Rahul Gandhi was in a temper to joke. They ought to first consider themselves correctly, then forged aspirations both on nationwide events or regional events. The downside with the Congress proper now’s, it’s unable to judge.”
Jha famous that Rahul’s personal assertion ran opposite to the declaration adopted by the Congress on the Chintan Shivir about protecting choices open for alliances with “like-minded parties”.
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
