At CWC meeting, what Congress top brass discussed: Concerns about tie-up with AAP, Sanatan Dharma row
After leaders from Punjab and Delhi argue against a tie-up with Arvind Kejriwal’s party, Mallikarjun Kharge assures top party panel that alliances and seat-sharing will be decided after consulting state units
Congress leaders at the CWC meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday.
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The two-day meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad saw members, mostly from Delhi and Punjab, flagging concerns about the party’s possible tie-up with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The leadership is learnt to have told them it will take a final call only after consultations with the state units.
The meeting also saw some leaders from the Hindi heartland suggesting that the leaders should avoid commenting on the Sanatan Dharma row, an issue the BJP has used to attack the alliance. Senior leader Rahul Gandhi asked party leaders not to walk into “irrelevant traps of the BJP”.
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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.
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“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.
Manoj C G currently serves as the Chief of National Political Bureau at The Indian Express. A veteran journalist with a career spanning nearly two decades, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the publication's coverage of India's political landscape.
Experience & Career: Manoj has built a robust career in political journalism, marked by a transition from wire service reporting to in-depth newspaper analysis.
The Indian Express (2008 – Present): He joined the organization in 2008 and has risen to lead the National Political Bureau, overseeing key political coverage.
Press Trust of India (PTI): Prior to his tenure at The Indian Express, Manoj worked with India’s premier news agency, PTI, honing his skills in breaking news and accurate reporting.
Expertise & Focus Areas: As a seasoned political observer, Manoj focuses on the nuances of governance and party dynamics.
National Politics: extensive reporting on the central government, parliamentary affairs, and national elections.
Political Strategy: Deep analysis of party structures, coalition politics, and the shifting ideologies within the Indian political spectrum.
Bureau Leadership: directing a team of reporters to cover the most critical developments in the nation's capital.
Authoritativeness & Trust: Manoj’s authoritativeness is grounded in his nearly 20 years of field experience and his leadership role at a legacy newspaper. His long-standing association with The Indian Express underscores a reputation for consistency, editorial integrity, and rigorous reporting standards required of a Bureau Chief.
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