The Congress officially kicked off its campaign for the 2019 elections in Gujarat after the meet of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi addressed a rally in Gandhinagar following the meet.
While the Congress president addressed issues like farm distress and unemployment, he also said that no sacrifice too big to defeat the ideology of the BJP and the RSS. But the question really is, is the Congress willing and able to make these sacrifices Rahul Gandhi talks about? Congress’ inability to form alliances close to the polls suggest otherwise.
Has the Congress squandered the gains after winning three Hindi heartland states in December last year? Is there a clear plan in place to challenge the BJP and Narendra Modi?
Tamanna Inamdar speaks to Nilanjan Sircar, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research; Aditi Fadnis, Political Editor at the Business Standard and senior journalist and commentator Madhavan Narayanan on the BloombergQuint’s Primetime Debate.
Challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his bastion, the Congress on Tuesday, 12 March pledged to expose his "betrayals and falsehoods" and accused him of "cynically exploiting national security for political gains".
At the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which met in Ahmedabad after 58 years, the political symbolism was there for all to see as the party sought to project the 2019 elections as a battle of Mahatma Gandhi's idea of India versus Nathuram Godse's idea of India.
The CWC also reaffirmed its commitment to serve the country and the people in its endeavour for inclusive growth and shared prosperity.
"The CWC assures the people that the Congress party believes in what it promises and has proven its credibility on delivering the same," the party's resolution said.
The Congress also urged all democratic and progressive forces to unite and pool their energies to relentlessly fight and expose the BJP government, and not to allow the nation’s political narrative be vitiated and focus deflected from the real issues that concern the people.
"An atmosphere of fear and insecurity is all pervasive particularly among women, students, academics, writers and the business community; there are deliberate attacks on the constitutional and other safeguards for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs and minorities; and there is subversion of all institutions of governance," the strongly-worded resolution said.
The party said it seeks a "mandate for better governance and accountability, to repair the grave damage caused to our democratic polity, economy and society by the Modi government, a mandate for change to restore the health of the Indian economy, for job creation, social justice and harmony".
In his speech at the CWC meeting, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi underlined the need to fight such forces together and said, "On the anniversary of Gandhi ji's historic Dandi March, the Congress Working Committee in Ahmedabad, resolved to defeat the RSS/BJP ideology of fascism, hatred, anger and divisiveness." In a tweet, earlier in the day, he said, "No sacrifice is too great in this endeavour; no effort too little; this battle will be won." He said Congress will not allow Modi to once again "mislead and befool" the people.
Before the CWC, the party top brass paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram from where he had commenced the Dandi March 89 years ago. Soon afterwards the Congress brigade moved to Sardar Patel Memorial Hall to conduct the CWC proceedings, reaffirming the CWC's commitment to the ideals espoused by the Mahatma and Patel later.
In her speech, Sonia Gandhi accused Modi of playing the “victimhood card” saying it were the people instead who were victims of his “wrong policies”.
She wanted Congress to come out with a vision for the country going forward as also highlight the achievements of the UPA government. She also said the issue of corruption in the Rafale deal should be highlighted in a big way.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh talked about the agrarian crisis, hampered industrial growth and unemployment under the present regime at the Centre.
The day also saw newly-appointed AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressing her maiden poll rally.
"This (read election) is no less than the struggle for India's freedom," she told a receptive gathering at Gandhinagar, urging the voice of change to be sent out aloud from Gujarat.
In her short speech, Priyanka also warned the voters against being swayed by irrelevant issues. "Vote is a weapon, use it cautiously. Take the right decision, ask the right questions," she said as the CWC earlier resolved to "not let PM Modi deflect attention of the people from the basic issues of joblessness, agrarian distress, low economic growth and poor security of women".
She also asked people to focus on issues concerning people and not allow the BJP to change the narrative.
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