Congress promises to raise 50% quota cap

Mr. Modi wants to have a monopoly over political financing through the capture of the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax Department, he claimed.

“Narendra Modi has given a chargesheet to the Opposition through the electoral bond scheme. That is why he is feeling terrorised and that is why the number [BJP’s poll target] has come to 400plus... if ‘400 paar’ does not happen and it is in the range of 140 to 180, then their ship will sink,” Mr. Gandhi said.

Asked about the number of seats the Congress and the Opposition are likely to win, he said, “Unlike many political commentators, I cannot predict the future. We are going to fight an excellent election and we are going to win the election.”

“INDIA [Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance] has decided that we are together fighting an ideological election. After winning the election, the whole coalition will jointly decide who will be the leader, the PM,” the former Congress chief said.

Recalling how the Atal Bihari Vajpayeeled BJP government lost in 2004 despite the “India Shining” campaign, Mr. Gandhi said that after accounts of the Congress were frozen, the party was left with its “original path to go to the people”.

“I urge everyone to have a close look at our manifesto and you will see a shandaar tasveer [beautiful picture] of our country in it,” Mr. Kharge said.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who headed the manifesto committee, and general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal were among those on the dais during the launch of the manifesto.