The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): After the BJP failed to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress asserted that the verdict was a mandate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party expressed readiness to explore government formation opportunities, with further actions to be decided after a meeting with INDIA bloc partners on Wednesday.
Congress and other opposition parties plan to reach out to former allies JDU and TDP. Sources indicate that some leaders have already initiated contact with these parties, extending an olive branch.
The Congress achieved a significant milestone in the general elections, crossing the 100-seat mark and emerging as a strong opposition in the Lok Sabha. Addressing a joint press conference with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi announced that the INDIA bloc allies would meet to decide their future course of action.
When asked if the Congress and its allies would approach parties like JDU and TDP to form a government, Rahul Gandhi said, “We are going to have a meeting with our partners tomorrow. These questions will be raised and answered there. Our alliance will decide tomorrow, and whatever they decide, we will act on that.”
The Lok Sabha poll results and trends showed the BJP as the single-largest party but falling short of the 272-seat majority. However, the BJP-led NDA is projected to secure a majority. The INDIA bloc, including Congress, successfully put up a spirited fight, with Congress set to win 99 seats, nearly double its 2019 tally.
Kharge emphasized that the election results are a victory for democracy and the people, who have given a clear message against PM Modi. “This mandate is against Modi ji. This is his political and moral defeat,” he asserted.
Kharge noted that the Congress and the INDIA alliance faced a hostile environment, with the government creating obstacles at every step. He accused Modi of spreading lies about the Congress’s manifesto and suggested that people were convinced another term for Modi would lead to an attack on the Constitution.
Rahul Gandhi highlighted that the general election was a fight to save the Constitution, with the poor and marginalized standing up to defend it. He praised the electorate for rejecting Modi and Amit Shah’s leadership and supporting a pro-poor vision. He reiterated the Congress’s commitment to conducting a caste census and implementing the “Mahalakshmi” scheme to provide financial support to women.
Drawing a parallel between the BJP’s declining seats and falling Adani stocks, Rahul Gandhi said, “People are directly correlating Modi and Adani. Modi ji is defeated, and the stock market says if Modi ji has gone, Adani ji has gone. There is a direct relationship of corruption.”
Rahul Gandhi expressed gratitude to the people of Uttar Pradesh for supporting the Congress and protecting the Constitution. When asked whether he would keep the Wayanad or Rae Bareli seat, he said he had not made a decision yet.
Meanwhile, Congress leader P Chidambaram stated, “Mr. Narendra Modi has forfeited his right to form a government. The verdict of the people is that they want a new government to replace the Modi government. All political parties are obliged to respect the wishes of the people and pave the way for a new government.”