New Delhi: The INDIA bloc will convene on Wednesday to decide whether to reach out to former partners such as the JD(U) and the TDP for potential government formation at the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced.
“We will be holding a meeting with our partners tomorrow to address these questions,” Gandhi stated at a press conference when asked about the possibility of the Congress and its allies engaging with NDA parties to form a government.
He was joined by senior Congress leaders as the latest Lok Sabha poll results indicated the BJP emerging as the single-largest party but falling short of the 272-seat majority required.
“We won’t make any decisions without consulting our allies. Our alliance will deliberate tomorrow, and we will act according to their consensus,” Gandhi said.
Highlighting the importance of the election, Gandhi emphasized it as a battle to safeguard the Constitution. “I believed that the people of this country would unite to protect the Constitution. The initial and most significant step towards this goal has been taken,” he noted, attributing this success to the efforts of the poor and marginalized communities.
“The nation’s poorest and most disadvantaged have risen to defend the Constitution,” he remarked, asserting that the Congress and the INDIA bloc have introduced a new, pro-poor vision for India.
“The message of this election is clear: the country does not want Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to continue leading it,” he added. Gandhi also praised the unity within the alliance, saying, “Wherever we fought, we fought as one.”
He expressed gratitude to the electorate of Uttar Pradesh for their support and their role in “protecting” the Constitution.
When questioned about his decision between retaining the Wayanad or Rae Bareli seat, Gandhi stated he had not yet made a choice. He also celebrated Congress candidate K L Sharma’s victory over BJP’s Smriti Irani in Amethi, noting Sharma’s decades-long dedication to the constituency, which assured his win.
