Cong identifying new allies, reaching out to estranged ones

Mango

Editor

posted on 11 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

40
views

The Congress is exploring avenues to reach out to those who have parted ways with the ruling coalition.

New Delhi: Gearing up for the 2014 general elections, Congress on Friday kickstarted the process of identifying new allies and exploring avenues to reach out to those who have parted ways with the ruling coalition.

Headed by Defence Minister AK Antony, the sub-group on pre-poll alliances, at its first meeting in New Delhi, deliberated on the current political situation and the way forward for the party in the context on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"This was the first meeting of the sub-group on pre-poll alliances...we discussed the current political situation...UPA-I we had some allies...UPA-II we have some allies. Some have left us, some have joined us," AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said.

He said the sub-group on pre-poll alliances would continue its deliberations on the political situation and the party's response to it. Dwivedi said all the sub-groups were formed for the 2014 elections and the current political situation would be analysed in that context.

Besides Antony and Dwivedi, the meeting was attended by Mukul Wasnik, Mohan Prakash and Jitendra Singh. The sub-group is part of the Congress Coordination Committee headed by Rahul Gandhi for 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Antony has been the Chief Minister of Kerala, which has seen the Congress in the alliance mode for a long time under the banner of United Democratic Front.

There has been talk about formation of UPA-III ahead of polls for quite some and several ministers including P Chidmabaram and Manish Tewari have already said that they recognise the reality of the coalitions.

The meeting on the issue of coalition, which appears crucial for Congress to come back to power, takes place over a week after the party's two-day Chintan Shivir at Jaipur gave a call for uniting secular forces.

While Jaipur declaration of the Congress called on all secular and progressive forces to unite in ideological battle against those who polarise and divide the society, the party chief gave a message for striking a fine balance between forging alliances and strengthening the party.