Congress mulls a Karnataka-like opposition's show of strength in MP, Rajasthan, C'garh

Buoyed by its poll performance in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the Congress is considering to bring all opposition parties on a single platform during the swearing-in ceremonies in three states.

Opposition leaders at HD Kumaraswamy's swearing in. PTI

NEW DELHI: Buoyed by its poll performances in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the Congress is considering bringing all opposition parties on a single platform during the swearing-in ceremonies in three states. Last time, it was during the oath-taking ceremony of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in May this year that opposition leaders came together against the BJP. Now, the Congress is mulling a similar show of strength by a galaxy of national leaders and regional satraps to send a strong signal to the Modi government ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections early next year. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, N Chandrababu Naidu, and Pinarayi Vijayan, BSP supremo Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and others had attended the Congress-JDS alliance government formation event seven months ago. Tuesday's results will help the Congress in strengthening its position in the opposition's ranks and also to push the narrative of 'Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi' in 2019 instead of the 'Narendra Modi vs Opposition' slogan. These results appeared to change the national politics as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati have already announced its support for the grand old party in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier, both Mayawati and Akhilesh refused to come onboard with the Congress in a pre-poll alliance in these assembly elections. The support extended by the SP and the BSP to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has also raised hopes of a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties in states like Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha election next year The Congress on Tuesday recorded its best-ever performance against the BJP since the disastrous 2014 Lok Sabha polls capturing power in the three Hindi heartland states and reviving its hopes in the next general elections. In a shock result, a resurgent Congress ended Chief Minister Raman Singh's uninterrupted 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh and regained power in Rajasthan, where the BJP won all the 25 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. It also became the single largest party in Madhya Pradesh by winning 114 seats, two short of a simple majority. The verdict, with the Congress poised to form governments in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, coincided with the first anniversary of Rahul Gandhi's elevation as party chief, raising his stature as a leader and enhancing his image as a serious politician.