Door open for MP alliance: Scindia
NEWDELHI: Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has said his party’s “doors are open” for an alliance in Madhya Pradesh and seat sharing will not be a “speed breaker” for like-minded parties to come together, remarks that come amid talk of a Congress-bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) tie-up for the assembly polls in the state.
Scindia, who is the Madhya Pradesh Congress’s campaign committee incharge for the assembly polls due later this year, also said that after a long time, all party leaders in the state were working “unitedly and cohesively” to take on the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.
In an interview to PTI, the MP from Guna said all “like-minded parties” must work together.
However, he said, the likemindedness has to be based on a fundamental precept of values and vision which was for a “liberal, secular and a progressive India” that ensures every citizen joins the mainstream to take the country to its rightful place in the comity of nations.
“And I think if that is our fundamental understanding of each other, and our values and our philosophies, then I think something like ticket-sharing is not going to be a speed breaker in like-minded parties coming together,” Scindia said.
Asked about Congress’s possible alliance with the BSP, he said his party’s “doors are open” and it was ready for having “conversations” with others, but that there should be “a clear understanding of what the ultimate goal is”.
“And if it (the goal) is to establish a government that serves the people, unlike what the NDA has done, then certainly in states where any of those partners are strong, that rightful place of strength has to be given to that partner, but at the same time, the larger, the more stronger partner, has to ensure that an equal amount of respect and dignity is also given in terms of taking the whole coalition along,” he said.
Scindia said the principle will apply to all states irrespective of the party in position of strength. He said the Congress’ main battle cry for the polls would be “It’s time for change, and the time is now”. Scindia believes victories in assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram would provide the party with a “huge momentum” ahead of the general elections.