INDIA bloc for upcoming Lok Sabha polls, not for assembly elections in any state: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh | India News
NEW DELHI: The Congress clarified on Friday that the INDIA bloc is exclusively intended for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and not for assembly polls in any state. The opposition bloc, consisting of 27 parties, remains intact and will continue to fight together. Recently, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar-headed JD(U), joined the BJP-led NDA, thereby leaving the opposition bloc as a 27-party coalition.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary, asserted that the Rahul Gandhi-led ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ will be very impactful in the context of 2024 general elections. However, he clarified that it is a political program and not an election campaign.
Ramesh stated, ‘The INDIA bloc is solely for the general elections, not for the assembly polls in West Bengal, Maharashtra, or any other state.’ He further explained that while the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena will fight together in the assembly polls in Maharashtra, there will be no alliance of INDIA partners in other state elections.
Addressing a press conference in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, Ramesh asserted that the INDI alliance of 27 parties will stand united and fight together for the Lok Sabha elections. He emphasized that the Congress is the only party in the country that has never directly or indirectly supported the BJP.
Ramesh highlighted that the alliance has been formed to counter the ideology of the BJP and RSS. He stated that the country’s constitution and democracy are under threat and defeating the BJP is necessary to protect them.
He further added, ‘This Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is of utmost importance as it has injected new energy and strength into the Congress organization. We firmly believe that this Yatra will greatly benefit the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.’ Ramesh clarified that Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly stated that the Yatra is being conducted from a political perspective, not with a focus on the elections.
Ramesh claimed that the Yatra, which began in Manipur and is scheduled to conclude in Maharashtra on March 20 after traversing multiple states, has received a tremendous response from people from all walks of life. However, the Yatra’s resumption on Friday was delayed by two and a half hours due to the ongoing state school board class 10 examination in Murshidabad and Birbhum.
He assured that the party respects rules and regulations and did not want to disrupt the examination process. Ramesh criticized the prevailing political dictatorship in the country and highlighted that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra aims to seek justice for women, youth, workers, farmers, and promote equity.
On the last day of the Yatra in West Bengal, Ramesh expressed the Congress’ determination to strengthen the INDIA bloc in the TMC-ruled state and all other states. While the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee announced that her party would contest the elections alone in West Bengal, Ramesh remains optimistic about reaching a mutually acceptable seat-sharing arrangement with the TMC.
The Congress, CPI(M)-led Left Front, and the TMC are members of the INDIA bloc. However, the TMC and the CPI(M) have reservations about collaborating with each other in West Bengal. The CPI(M) joined the Yatra in Bengal, with state secretary Mohammed Salim, central committee member Sujan Chakraborty, and other leaders participating.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary, asserted that the Rahul Gandhi-led ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ will be very impactful in the context of 2024 general elections. However, he clarified that it is a political program and not an election campaign.
Ramesh stated, ‘The INDIA bloc is solely for the general elections, not for the assembly polls in West Bengal, Maharashtra, or any other state.’ He further explained that while the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena will fight together in the assembly polls in Maharashtra, there will be no alliance of INDIA partners in other state elections.
Addressing a press conference in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, Ramesh asserted that the INDI alliance of 27 parties will stand united and fight together for the Lok Sabha elections. He emphasized that the Congress is the only party in the country that has never directly or indirectly supported the BJP.
Ramesh highlighted that the alliance has been formed to counter the ideology of the BJP and RSS. He stated that the country’s constitution and democracy are under threat and defeating the BJP is necessary to protect them.
He further added, ‘This Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is of utmost importance as it has injected new energy and strength into the Congress organization. We firmly believe that this Yatra will greatly benefit the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.’ Ramesh clarified that Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly stated that the Yatra is being conducted from a political perspective, not with a focus on the elections.
Ramesh claimed that the Yatra, which began in Manipur and is scheduled to conclude in Maharashtra on March 20 after traversing multiple states, has received a tremendous response from people from all walks of life. However, the Yatra’s resumption on Friday was delayed by two and a half hours due to the ongoing state school board class 10 examination in Murshidabad and Birbhum.
He assured that the party respects rules and regulations and did not want to disrupt the examination process. Ramesh criticized the prevailing political dictatorship in the country and highlighted that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra aims to seek justice for women, youth, workers, farmers, and promote equity.
On the last day of the Yatra in West Bengal, Ramesh expressed the Congress’ determination to strengthen the INDIA bloc in the TMC-ruled state and all other states. While the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee announced that her party would contest the elections alone in West Bengal, Ramesh remains optimistic about reaching a mutually acceptable seat-sharing arrangement with the TMC.
The Congress, CPI(M)-led Left Front, and the TMC are members of the INDIA bloc. However, the TMC and the CPI(M) have reservations about collaborating with each other in West Bengal. The CPI(M) joined the Yatra in Bengal, with state secretary Mohammed Salim, central committee member Sujan Chakraborty, and other leaders participating.
