“Never said who will lead, be PM candidate...”: Congress President Kharge calls for opposition unity
Kharge says Congress keen that like-minded parties come together for national polls
Chennai: Pitching for opposition unity to take on the BJP-led government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday that he had never said “who will lead or who will become PM” and that the party is keen that the like-minded parties come together for the electoral challenge.
“All like-minded opposition parties should come together against the divisive forces. I never said who will lead or who will become PM. It’s not the question. We want to fight together unitedly, this is our desire,” Kharge said at an event to mark the 70th birthday celebrations of DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Kharge’s remarks on Wednesday are seemingly at variance with his remarks in Bharat Yatra Jodo event in November last year in which he had said that Congress will bring non-BJP government to power under its leadership and that of Rahul Gandhi.
“If anyone will bring a non-BJP government, then under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, under Congress’ leadership, we will do it. We have that strength in us,” Kharge had said.
There are apparent differences in the opposition parties over the prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 battle. Some opposition parties are also rivals in states.
Kharge said the Congress-DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu has been successful and the two parties should lead “the foundation for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls victory”.
“Congress-DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu led to Lok Sabha victories in 2004, 2009 and assembly victories in 2006 and 2021. We should continue to strengthen our alliance and lead foundation for the 2024 Lok Sabha victory for the UPA alliance,” he said. DMK has been a key ally of the Congress.
In his remarks, Kharge also attacked the federal government.