We have to think big like BJP to succeed, says Congress leader Salman Khurshid

Bengaluru, 17: Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid wants his party to think big like the BJP, and refuse to accept “pessimistic view” that the outfit has now become too small, weak and cannot regain its lost ground.

“One take-away that I have from (West) Bengal and Assam (Assembly elections) is: You should never, never accept that you are too small, you are too weak and that you can't make it big in a particular region or State”, he said on Monday.

“I think, BJP has done that (think-big strategy) where they had no existence at all. They tried to do it in other places where they still don't have any existence,” Khurshid said.

The Congress, the former Union Minister insisted, should not accept the “pessimistic view” that it has lost too much ground and it cannot now regain.

“I think with determination and confidence, we can and that's what we should do.”

Khurshid agreed with analysis in some quarters that there was tactical voting in the recent Assembly elections in West Bengal, where the Congress and the Left were “wiped out”.

“That’s true. One analyst said the extent of tactical voting that happened in Bengal may not have happened in Assam but obviously tactical voting happened in both the places,” he said.

“...what do you do with it (tactical voting) as a party for the future, it’s something that we will have to consider”.

Khurshid

was

asked about his take on assessment by some of his party leaders who blamed a tieup with Indian Secular Front contributing to the rout in West Bengal and those who claimed that the partnership with AIUDF cost the party dearly in Assam.

“Whenever you don’t succeed, this is the kind of explanation that you are given; when you succeed, you are given a different explanation,” he said.

“So, I don’t think posthoc explanations are sensible although they help you analyse your decisionmaking process and merits of that decision. All I can say is: much can be said on both sides.”

Khurshid also said that the Congress manifesto for Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, due next year, would be a manifesto “from amongst” the people. “Idea is to be a little more analytical about what is it that people want and see if we can give it,” he said.

Khurshid added: “Of course, we continue to face that problem of irrational division along castes and communities, and that will get resolved over a period. That (the division) can't be something which can be wished away. It will get resolved over a period.”

● Khurshid agreed with analysis in some quarters that there was tactical voting in the recent Assembly elections in West Bengal, where the Congress and the Left were “wiped out”.