At CWC meeting, what Congress top brass discussed: Concerns about tie-up with AAP, Sanatan Dharma row

तेलंगाना को कांग्रेस की ये 6 गारंटी हैं:

✅ इंदिराम्मा इंदलू
– घर बनाने के लिए ₹5 लाख सहायता
– तेलंगाना आंदोलन सेनानियों को 250 स्क्वायर यार्ड ज़मीन

✅ महालक्ष्मी
– महिलाओं को ₹2,500 प्रतिमाह, मुफ़्त बस यात्रा
– गैस सिलेंडर सिर्फ़ ₹500 का

✅ गृह ज्योति
– 200 यूनिट मुफ़्त… pic.twitter.com/adNaeWYXlB

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 17, 2023

The concerns raised at the CWC over a seat-sharing agreement with the AAP come just days after the INDIA bloc decided to start the process of determining how the alliance’s members will divide the constituencies among themselves during the elections. The bloc’s coordination committee has decided that the member parties will hold the talks on seat sharing and “decide at the earliest”.

Sources said Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition in Punjab, and Delhi Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Alka Lamba voiced concerns about an electoral tie-up with the AAP. While Bajwa pointed out that the sentiment of the party cadre of Punjab was against any understanding with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, which is in power in the state, Maken said the AAP was putting up candidates against the Congress in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Maken is the chairperson of the screening committee for picking candidates in Chhattisgarh. Bajwa also told the CWC that if the ruling party and the main Opposition party in Punjab join hands, it will help the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

The leaders argued that the AAP’s attack in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh was focused against the Congress and not the BJP. Sources said party president Mallikarjun Kharge told the CWC that alliances and seat sharing would be discussed at a later stage but assured the committee that such decisions would be taken after consultations with state units. Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, sources said, adopted a slightly conciliatory approach.

In his address, Kharge emphasised unity and maintaining discipline. He asked party leaders to set aside their personal differences to ensure the party’s success. He also asked them to be ready for elections in Jammu and Kashmir, whenever it is announced. “This is not the time for us to rest … We must unite and overthrow this dictatorial government to save our democracy. We must work tirelessly putting aside personal interests. We must prioritise the success of the party putting aside our personal differences. We must exercise self-restraint and avoid going to media with statements against our leaders or party so that the Congress’ interests are not harmed,” said the Congress president.

Emphasising unity and discipline, he said, “Our goal must be to defeat the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and work diligently to form an alternative government in the country.”

Sanatan Dharma row

Sources said Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader Digvijaya Singh argued that the party should completely distance itself from the Sanatan Dharma controversy. Gandhi, on his part, reiterated the need for ideological clarity.

“All of us emerged from that hall of the CWC in deep thought with absolute clarity. He (Rahul) warned us against walking into irrelevant traps of the BJP. These are not issues of the common man or woman or to any of us,” Congress media department head Pawan Khera told reporters.

At the end of the two-day session, the CWC passed a resolution expressing confidence that the party would receive a “decisive mandate from the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana in the Assembly elections that will be held shortly”.

As for the Lok Sabha elections, it said the party was ready for the battle. “It is confident that the people of our country are wanting change. We will fulfil their expectations of law and order, freedom, social and economic justice, equality and equity,” read the two-paragraph resolution.