As the India alliance parties prepare to initiate discussions on seat-sharing, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened for a two-day meeting in Hyderabad over the weekend, aiming to formulate the party's overarching electoral strategy while taking into account various challenges. One prominent challenge lies in bridging the significant gap between the perspectives of the party's central leadership and certain state units concerning alliances and seat adjustments with certain India members.
The central leadership of the Congress party expresses optimism regarding the India alliance and suggests that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections may not solely revolve around the "Modi vs. Rahul" narrative this time. However, they are cautious about entering into seat-sharing negotiations hastily, while some India alliance partners are pressing for a finalized arrangement by the end of October.
According to Congress sources, ideally, the party would have preferred to await the results of the impending Assembly elections in five states, as a strong performance there would enhance its bargaining position. Nevertheless, due to mounting pressure from other parties regarding seat-sharing, the leadership intends to engage in discussions with state leaders on this matter.
This Saturday marks a significant event as the reconstituted Congress Working Committee (CWC) convenes its first meeting since the formation of the INDIA alliance. Following this, an extended meeting on Sunday will include state Congress chiefs, party Chief Ministers, and CLP (Congress Legislative Party) leaders.
The Congress party anticipates resistance, particularly from its units in Punjab, Delhi, and West Bengal. In Punjab and Delhi, party leaders strongly oppose the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has eroded the Congress's support base. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the state leadership is engaged in a direct contest with the Trinamool Congress. Furthermore, the Congress leadership is gearing up for challenging negotiations in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
The officially circulated agenda for the CWC meeting includes discussions on the "current political situation in the country" and "elections." Additionally, there may be discussions regarding leaders' demands for Rahul Gandhi to embark on another Yatra. Some close to him suggest that he will undertake a Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0 closer to the Lok Sabha elections, following the Assembly polls. However, a faction within the party believes he should hit the road sooner.
The CWC meeting takes place against the backdrop of the BJP intensifying its criticism of the INDIA alliance over the Sanatan Dharma controversy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, accused the alliance of attempting to "destroy" Sanatan Dharma and called on people to remain vigilant against "attacks on us across the country." States in the heartland, such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, are heading for elections, and some party leaders in these states are concerned about the impact of the BJP's campaign on this issue.
Party leaders, with access to internal surveys, suggest that the race in Rajasthan, which traditionally alternates between the Congress and BJP in power, is close. In Chhattisgarh, they indicate a slight lead for the Congress, and in Madhya Pradesh, the party appears to be in a better position. In Telangana, Congress leaders believe the party is rapidly gaining momentum, which is one of the reasons for choosing Hyderabad as the location for the conclave.
After the conclusion of the CWC meeting on Sunday, the Congress plans to hold a rally in Hyderabad, during which it will announce six poll guarantees for the state, drawing from the successful strategy employed in the Karnataka elections in May. Subsequently, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will inaugurate a cavalcade for CWC members, invitees, PCC chiefs, and CLP leaders to visit all 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana. All senior party leaders, except MPs, who need to attend a special session of Parliament, will stay in Hyderabad on Monday to conduct workers' meetings and engage in door-to-door distribution of a "charge sheet" against the BRS government.
