Anti-BJP alliances in Bihar, UP will stop BJP in 2019; Rahul open to back others as PM: Congress sources
Rahul Gandhi
On whether Rahul will step aside for a woman candidate from a possible opposition alliance, the sources said he "is comfortable seeing any prime minister other than an RSS-backed one".
The Congress party is looking to cobble up alliances with various parties in states to prevent the BJP from coming back to power in 2019.
Giving a hint about the party's strategy, top Congress sources said that the key to defeat BJP is an alliance in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which together have the largest number of Lok Sabha seats. "If the Congress is able to form anti-BJP alliances in these states, it will restrict BJP to 220-230 and it won't be able to form the government," sources said.
While Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats, Bihar has 40 and the two together comprise over 22 per cent of the total strength of Lok Sabha members of 543.
Stating that it's going to be an "ideological fight", the sources said the Congress has to bring all the opposition parties together to defeat the BJP. They added that the Congress does not believe in "right or left" views but for a liberal and pragmatic space.
According to the sources, the Congress leadership is of the view that the BJP will be decimated without any "anger and disrespect".
Noting that the Congress is focussing on increasing women's representation in the party, the sources said women leaders will be appointed in general secretary level posts after they gain experience at different levels of party functioning.
The sources also gave indications that party president Rahul Gandhi is not averse to accepting a nominee for the top post from any opposition alliance who does not have the backing of the RSS.
On whether Rahul will step aside for a woman candidate from a possible opposition alliance, the sources said he "is comfortable seeing any prime minister other than an RSS-backed one".
After the meeting of the Congress Working committee (CWC) on Sunday, the Congress said Rahul Gandhi will be its prime ministerial face for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It also authorised Rahul Gandhi to forge alliances with "like-minded" political parties to take on the ruling BJP.