The Congress has started deliberations and looking for allies in the poll-bound States after a grand success through forging grand partnership in the Bihar Assembly polls.
While Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has ruled out any alliance in Assam, the party kept up the suspense on the issue in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry despite party leaders from the two southern States holding elaborate consultations with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on electoral strategy.
A senior party leader said that it is too early to decide on the alliance issue in the two southern States as rival sides have been making attempts to poach to come up the winner. The party has already forged an alliance in Punjab recently.
AICC has given indications that the decision on the issue of alliances would be taken keeping in mind the aim of checking ruling BJP in 2019 lok Sabha elections and the view of the state units on tie-ups in their areas.
Gogoi, who is in Delhi said that Congress will go all alone in the state in the forthcoming Assembly elections and that it would be a direct fight between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Everyone’s face will be there. But I will be the captain. I am the General of the party and Modi is the General of BJP,” Gogoi said.
Gogoi was replying to a question on whether he would be the Chief Ministerial candidate of Congress or not in the State Assembly polls expected to be held in April-May. He ruled out any alliance with any political party saying Congress is more interested for electoral “understanding” with “secular” parties to defeat BJP.
“I am going alone. There will be no seat sharing. There will be no ‘mahajoth’. Only ‘maha-understanding’ with some secular parties to ensure BJP’s defeat. Understanding means vote for Congress but not BJP. Vote for AGP but not for BJP,” he said.
He claimed Congress vice president has left it to him and the party’s State unit to decide on the issue of alliance. Gogoi, who has been Chief Minister of Assam for last 15 years, however, admitted that the coming polls would be a tough one for Congress but he likes such challenges.
Gogoi also ruled out taking help of poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who was widely credited for the victory of Nitish Kumar in Bihar polls last year and helping Modi during 2014 lok Sabha polls.
AICC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik refused to divulge details on what decision on the alliance issue was arrived at when party leaders from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry met Rahul Gandhi in the last two days. “Whenever any decision is taken, we will let you know,” Wasnik said at AICC briefing.
Two days ago, Rahul had held deliberations with leaders from Tamil Nadu on the strategy to be adopted in the poll- bound State where the issue of forging an alliance holds the key to prospects of the party. A section in the party believes that the high command would opt for an alliance with DMK and other like-minded parties like DMDK in the State ruled by AIADMK.
Only last month, DMK chief M Karunanidhi had said that Congress would be invited to join the alliance led by his party for coming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi’s statement had come nearly three years after snapping ties with Congress.
Congress is out of power in Tamil Nadu for nearly five decades and has generally been aligning with either of the Dravidian parties- DMK or AIADMK. Sometimes, it had contested alone too but without much success. Reports had it that some leaders from Tamil Nadu had utilised the opportunity to press for their demand for removal of PCC chief E V K S Elangovan.
Senior leaders of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) apprised the Congress Vice President about the current political developments in the union territory on Thursday. AICC general secretary and former Union Minister of State V Narayanasamy, leader of Opposition V Vaithilingam and PPCC president A Namassivayam met Rahul.