Cong to hunt for allies after polls in 4 states?
Even as the AICC sub-group headed by defence minister A.K. Antony is yet to begin its work on pre-poll alliances, over half-a-dozen political parties cannot afford to associate with BJP heavyweight Narendra Modi after the Lok Sabha elections. The sub-group had few sittings but the party is yet to approach the like-minded parties formally for the pre-poll alliance.
Informed sources said that the exercise would get momentum a few months before the general election. This means that the Congress strategists would approach the parties only after the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, expected in November-December this year.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had constituted a six-member sub-group on pre-poll alliances in November last, making it clear that the party will fight the elections under the banner of the UPA for a third time consecutively.
The non-NDA parties, like the Samajwadi Party, BSP, Left, Janata Dal(U), Janata Dal(S), RJD, LJP, DMK, are seen as prospective allies of the Congress. Even the Trinamul Congress led by Mamata Banerjee would find it difficult to associate with Mr Modi if he wins the battle for the PM’s post within the BJP and the NDA.
On the other hand, anti-Congress parties, like the Biju Janata Dal, YSR Congress and TDP, will not be comfortable with the BJP if it hardens its stand on Hindutva and Ayodhya.
Though the Congress will fight the electoral battle with its current allies — the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the Rashtriya Lok Dal — a section of the party indicated that the Congress may get some allies in Uttar Pradesh.
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