Congress to forge Grand Alliance to defeat BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha polls

The Congress party has decided to forge a Grand Alliance with like-minded parties to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

On the opening day of the party’s 84th plenary session, Congress adopted a political resolution that recommends “pragmatic approach” on alliances with compatible parties to take on the BJP.

The Congress has been making all-out efforts to unite the Opposition parties against the BJP in the next elections.

While delivering his maiden plenary session speech, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused BJP of spreading hatred and said that only Congress’s hand symbol can take the country forward with love and brotherhood.

“The nation is “fatigued” with Modi government and looking for a way out, only Congress can show the way ahead,” the Rahul said.

Some leaders at the conclave said no one can stop Rahul Gandhi from becoming the prime minister in 2019 and a beginning of a new era has been made.

Also Read | Hand of love will bring change, take the country forward, says Rahul Gandhi

During the first day of the plenary session, Rahul Gandhi’s mother and predecessor Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Modi and said his government was “drunk” on power.

In the last four years, this arrogant and power-drunk government has left no stone unturned to destroy the Congress. They have used every trick in the trade, but Congress has neither succumbed before this arrogance of power nor will it succumb in future, Gandhi said.

Terming PM Modi’s promises of inclusive development as all “drama”, Gandhi said, “The promises of ‘Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas’ and ‘Na Khaoonga, Na Khaane Doonga’ were only ‘dramebaazi’ (theatrics) and a trick to grab votes.”

Also Read | Sonia Gandhi attacks PM, says 'autocratic' Modi government drunk on power

In another resolution, the party said if voted to power it would come out with a loan-waiver scheme for small and marginal farmers similar to that announced by the UPA government in 2009.

Adopting a resolution on Agriculture, Employment and Poverty Alleviation at the plenary session, the party hit out at the Modi government for its flawed and anti-farmer policies that caused an “agrarian crisis” in the country.

The Grand Old Party also advised the Election Commission to scrap the electronic voting machines (EVM) and get the old style of paper ballots in future.

The party said that it is necessary to stop the misuse of EVMs to manipulate the fate of the popular verdict.

In a resolution made in the plenary session, the party said BJP’s move of simultaneous elections is misplaced and is incompatible with the Constitution.

Current Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pressing upon the idea of ‘One Country One Election’ contending that it will save money and time.

The two-day plenary session that seeks to show the party the path forward and give vision and direction to it, was attended by top party leaders, including former PM Manmohan Singh, Opposition leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, and Ghulam Nabi Azad.

(With agency inputs)