Amidst the vibrant streets of New Delhi, the Congress party is formulating a cohesive minimum program, drawing from the foundational pledges of the INDIA coalition, with the aim of fortifying the unity of the opposition and amplifying the clarion call for societal well-being during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Buoyed by the enthusiastic response from the public following the culmination of phase 1 polling for 102 constituencies spanning 21 states on April 19, the opposition coalition finds solace in the resonance of its agenda, spotlighting issues of unemployment and the soaring prices, with the electorate.
“In light of the feedback echoing from every nook and cranny of the nation, we have resolved to keep the concerns of the populace at the forefront of our national crusade. It heartens me to witness the electorate embracing our ethos of social equity. Given the convergence of perspectives among the majority of opposition factions, it appears judicious to devise a collaborative manifesto that amalgamates the visions of the alliance. Such a document would elucidate to the voters the course of action the INDIA coalition intends to pursue if entrusted with power,” articulated Jagdish Thakor, a member of the Congress Working Committee, to ETV Bharat.
Insiders within the party reveal that the envisioned joint manifesto may encompass initiatives such as the doorstep distribution of essential provisions to indigent households, provision of complimentary electricity up to 200 units, allocation of six free LPG cylinders annually, revival of the traditional pension system, and grants for women pursuing advanced education, along with amnesty for student loans, all aimed at captivating a substantial segment of the electorate.
In the wake of the acknowledgment by former Congress President Rahul Gandhi that the party’s manifesto echoes the ethos of all the partners within the INDIA coalition, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has begun emphasizing the grand old party’s commitment to prioritize poverty alleviation.
“Though the manifesto is birthed from the womb of the Congress party, it reverberates with the ethos of the coalition. Any recommendations proffered by our allies will find a place within our manifesto as we march forward collectively,” asserted Rahul during a joint press briefing alongside Akhilesh Yadav on April 17.
This coming Saturday, these two stalwarts will unite in canvassing support for the Congress candidate in the Amroha constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
While the Congress has already implemented the complimentary electricity scheme in states under its jurisdiction such as Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, the notion of delivering essentials to doorsteps finds its genesis in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
In a recent rendezvous, AAP’s Sanjay Singh engaged in discussions with Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, outlining the contours of a collaborative campaign in Delhi. Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) underscored the employment opportunities created in Bihar during his tenure as the Deputy Chief Minister. This harmonizes with the Congress’s commitment to fill 30 lakh government vacancies.
“Many of the issues highlighted by the opposition parties are congruent, but the decision on a joint manifesto rests with the central command. However, a unified campaign is indeed a pragmatic proposition,” remarked AICC Secretary overseeing Madhya Pradesh, CP Mittal, to ETV Bharat.
Initially earmarked for their ally, the Samajwadi Party, the Khajuraho seat was relinquished, yet following the disqualification of SP leader Meera Yadav’s nomination, the coalition opted to extend support to the Forward Bloc candidate, RB Prajapati.
According to Mittal, the decrease in phase 1 polling figures compared to the 2019 elections does not bode well for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “This lays bare the fallacy of their claims to 400 seats. The electorate’s primary concern revolves around sustenance, as evidenced by their repeated references to 2047,” added Mittal.
