The Congress is making efforts to reach out to several Opposition and other like-minded parties to put a united front in the forthcoming Budget Session to corner the BJP-led Centre over “multiple failures” including highest-ever unemployment and price rise affecting the larger section of society across the country.
AICC sources told The Pioneer, as far strategy is concerned, all Opposition parties even though they are contesting against each other in all the poll bound States, they should work together for at least the first half of the Budget session till February 11 as the five States including Uttar Pradesh will begin their first phase of voting on February 10.
All the major opposition parties, Congress, Samajwadi party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Aam Aadmi Party are putting up a brave front against each other in all polling states UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
"Except for the Trinamool Congress, all were on same board until last winter session to take on the Modi government on almost all the issues which were to be opposed in the national and common people interest. The TMC, however, cropped differences with Congress and kept away to put a united Opposition.
Even AAP and SP, BSP were on board and shared platform with Rahul Gandhi. Now when TMC is fighting a high pitched poll battle in Goa against Congress and AAP in Punjab besides SP in crucial Uttar Pradesh, we are working out a common strategy so that the Opposition parties don't fight each other on floor of the Parliament when serious and concerning issues like inflation, unemployment, Chine border issues are concerned. We are in touch with TMC, AAP and others to devise a common strategy in the Parliament and don't give enough advantage to BJP by exhibiting our political differences," said a very senior Congress leader and a Rajya Sabha member.
When contacted, leaders of TMC, AAP and SP said that Parliament strategy will not affect the parties' assembly election fortunes. "Yes they are in touch and a meeting in this regard is being worked out for coming weekend before the Budget session begins," said a Rajya Sabha MP.
In a statement on Sunday former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that over four crore people have been pushed into poverty in the country and that there has been development of only "Hamare Do".
"'Vikas overflow' only for 'Humare Do'! While our 4,00,00,000 brothers and sisters are pushed into poverty," he said on Twitter.
"Each of these 4,00,00,000 is a real person, not just a number. Each of these 4,00,00,000 deserved better. Each of these 4,00,00,000 is India!," Rahul Gandhi said, using the hashtag "BJPfailsIndia" on Twitter.