• Source:JND
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Intensifying preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress on Thursday initiated discussions on the party's strategy, manifesto and seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections while also finalising the route map for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a hybrid version of the earlier foot march. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Thursday conducted meetings with the members of the party's Alliance Committee and Manifesto Committee in the national capital.

Reportedly, Congress is looking to contest more than half the total seats and the party has asked the state units to begin the process of candidate selection and provide the first list. They are likely to announce screening committees for all states by this week and candidate selection would start immediately, the sources added, noting that the party would declare the first list of candidates "very soon".

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik said that the seat talks would be held on a state-by-state basis depending on the allies’ situation in a particular province.

”We are fully aware that we have to do it (negotiations) quickly. It is our top priority. There will be no delay. As soon as other political parties get ready, we start talks with them at their convenient time. It is important to discuss one the basis of states as different parties have different situations in the states,” Wasnik said.

He further said that Congress has discussed with various state leaders (of the party) the scope and nature of the alliance with INDIA partners, which seats we want to fight and which seats we can offer to them. We have given a detailed submission on the talks to Kharge ji, Rahul Gandhi ji and Venugopal ji. We will start the seat discussion very shortly with various parties.

Meanwhile, party president Kharge asked the leaders to sink their differences, not raise internal issues in the media and work as a team and said, "We have to unite and give a befitting reply to the lies, deceit and wrongdoings of the BJP on grassroots issues in front of the people."

Separately, the party initiated discussions for manifesto formation as the committee formed in this regard met for the first time and held discussions on key issues to be included in the party's alternative positive agenda to be presented to people. Senior Congress leaders from across the country discussed the preparations for the upcoming yatra which has now been rechristened as Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra beginning January 14 and finalised its road map.

The Manipur-Mumbai yatra starting on January 14 will travel through 100 Lok Sabha segments in 15 states including Arunachal Pradesh, with party leader Jairam Ramesh asserting it will prove to be as "transformative" as his earlier march. The party is inviting all leaders of the Indian National Inclusive Developmental Alliance (INDIA) bloc to join the yatra anywhere along its route.

 

(With Agency Inputs)