Likeminded parties should join hands to defeat BJP: Sonia
MISSION 2019 Gandhi said the change was coming as was evident from the Cong’s performance in Gujarat and Rajasthan byelections
Congress parliamentary party (CPP) chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday called for a broad-based alliance for the next Lok Sabha election to ensure that the BJP was defeated and “India restored to a democratic, inclusive, secular, tolerant and economically progressive” path.
Addressing a CPP meeting, Gandhi said change was coming as was evident from the party’s performance in Gujarat and the recent by-elections in Rajasthan.
“I will work with the Congress president and other colleagues in discussions with like-minded, political parties to ensure that in the next election, the BJP is defeated and India is restored to a democratic, inclusive, secular, tolerant and economically progressive path,” she said.
The remarks came days after she appealed to opposition parties to build consensus at the national level and bury differences in states to put up a united front against the BJP.
Political analysts are of the view that there is a growing realisation within the opposition parties that the BJP will regain power in 2019 if they don’t fight unitedly and form a grand alliance.
“This is the need of the hour. Congress realises and regional
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parties also know but for that they have to keep their egos aside. It is also a reality that if they don’t come together, BJP will come back to power,” said Sanjay Kumar of the Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
However, he said the nature of electoral politics in different states makes it difficult for the regional parties to come together.
“There are ifs and buts. Take for example, will Left and Trinamool Congress join hands in West Bengal and similarly Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh,” Kumar added.
Sounding the poll bugle, Gandhi hailed the party’s recent performance and also urged the party leaders and workers to be ready for an early Lok Sabha election.