Congress's Crowdfunding Campaign To 4th I.N.D.I.A Meet — The Week Ahead

The week ahead is likely to see the I.N.D.I.A bloc make some headway on the seat-sharing front as the partners hold their 4th meeting and the Congress launch a fundraising campaign.

As the next Lok Sabha elections draw near, the Congress and its allies in the I.N.D.I.A bloc are mobilising themselves to take on the BJP. While the Congress has scheduled a crowdfunding campaign ahead of its Foundation Day next week, the I.N.D.I.A partners are likely to start discussions on seat-sharing strategies.

Stay with ABP Live as we try to cut the clutter around the latest news from the political arena and help you understand what is likely to happen in The Week Ahead. Here are the biggest political developments expected to play out this week.  

Congress To Kick Off Crowdfunding Campaign

The Congress last week announced a nationwide crowdfunding initiative — 'Donate For Desh' — on December 18, aimed at garnering resources for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The campaign will primarily be online until December 28, the party's foundation day, after which ground campaigns, including door-to-door visits, will commence.

The BJP hit out at the Opposition party accusing them of attempting to divert public funds for the personal gains of the Congress leaders. The BJP cited the recent cash seizure during Income Tax raids on a company associated with Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu and said that the Congress's only aim was to dupe people.

The launch of the campaign is scheduled for Monday, December 18, in Delhi, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge leading the proceedings. During a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and Treasurer Ajay Maken announced that individuals above 18 years can contribute a minimum of Rs 138 or multiples such as Rs 1,380, Rs 13,800, etc., to the campaign.

Venugopal drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's 'Tilak Swaraj Fund,' established over a century ago in 1920-21, stating that the initiative aims to empower the party in fostering an India marked by equitable resource distribution and opportunities.

Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT department, dismissed the Congress's claims of drawing inspiration from Gandhi's Tilak Swaraj Fund, asserting it as a ploy to exploit public funds for personal gain.

Acknowledging financial constraints, Congress sources revealed the party's struggle to match the well-funded machinery of the BJP, alleging that the electoral bond system favors the ruling party.

The 'Donate for Behtar Bharat' campaign, commemorating the 138-year legacy of the Indian National Congress, calls supporters to donate in multiples of Rs 138, symbolizing the party's commitment to a better India. Two online channels, a dedicated portal at donateinc.in and the official Congress website at inc.in, have been set up for the crowdfunding effort.

Congress Meet To Plan Lok Sabha 2024 Strategy

The Congress on December 21 will hold a meeting of its working committee to strategise for the upcoming 2024 general elections and formulate a comprehensive plan for its electoral campaign against the BJP, according to insider sources.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has summoned the meeting at the All India Congress Committee headquarters, slated to occur two days after the I.N.D.I.A bloc meeting on December 19. The Congress will deliberate on the current political situation in the country and plan for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Key topics on the agenda are expected to include seat-sharing and campaign strategies. Additionally, the meeting may explore the feasibility of a Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi before the 2024 polls, focusing on issues such as unemployment and rising prices.

The party is mulling an east-to-west yatra in a hybrid format that would include both on-foot and vehicle rallies. 

Fourth I.N.D.I.A Meet Likely To Plan Joint Rallies, Seat Sharing

Preceding the Congress Working Committee meeting, the leaders of I.N.D.I.A parties will convene for their 4th meeting at 3 PM on December 19 in New Delhi. The agenda for this meeting includes the development of a "core positive agenda," discussions on seat sharing, and the formulation of a plan for joint rallies, posing significant challenges to the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc.

With the theme "Main Nahin, Hum" (We, Not Me), the opposition parties aim to present a unified front against the prime minister. The Congress Working Committee will also scrutinize the recent assembly poll results, particularly the defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, while securing victory and forming a government in Telangana. The party faced losses in Mizoram as well.

The CWC meeting will delve into an analysis of the reasons behind the defeats in the assembly polls and strategize for the 2024 elections. This gathering is crucial as the Congress aims to formulate an alternative positive agenda to counter the BJP, recognizing the need for innovative thinking to confront the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming elections.

Stay tuned to ABP Live as we track the updates on these stories and more.

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