Congress permutes alliance formation for 2019 ‘victory’; Rahul likely to be the face

The decision about Rahul Gandhi being the final word on alliances came amid perceptions that Sonia Gandhi had a wider acceptability among present and potential allies and was better placed to negotiate with them.

Image courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: After losing the much sanguine no-confidence motion against Bharatiya Janta Party government, the stress has mounted in the Congress party over the preparation for forthcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is now conceptualizing all permutations and combinations to figure out how they can sweep the general elections. A discussion over the same also took place during the party working committee (CWC) meeting on Sunday, where the main focus was laid on the alliance formation. The party pressed on making president Rahul Gandhi a face of the alliance which would ‘beat’ Bharatiya Janta Party. The decision about Rahul Gandhi being the final word on alliances came amid perceptions that Sonia Gandhi had a wider acceptability among present and potential allies and was better placed to negotiate with them. The CWC discussed preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as also its readiness to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh - where elections will be held at the end of this year. It also discussed Mizoram where elections are due this year. With the party having suffered electorally due to "indiscreet remarks" of some of its leaders close to elections, Rahul Gandhi emphasised on "gravitas of the language and conduct" and to keeping the party line in mind while making statements. While he asked party workers not to leave any stone unturned to oust the "failed" Narendra Modi government, party sources said several leaders stressed the need to strengthen the party at the booth-level, and outpace the BJP in poll management.