The Congress party has raised concerns about placing trust in leaders such as Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while commending Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his efforts to unite opposition parties. Alok Sharma, the spokesperson for the All India Congress Committee (AICC), expressed the party’s reservations during a press conference at the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) headquarters in Sadaqat Ashram.
Sharma accused KCR and Kejriwal of having supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the past eight to nine years, which has resulted in a lack of trust from the Congress party. He cited Kejriwal’s previous support for the now-withdrawn farm bills and his call for the arrest of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi as evidence of their questionable allegiance. Sharma emphasized that, as the official spokesperson of the Congress, he asserts the party’s continuing lack of trust in these leaders.
However, Sharma acknowledged that the final decision on forming alliances would be left to Nitish Kumar’s discretion. The Congress party, as the third-largest constituent of Bihar’s ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan,’ has joined forces with Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) after his departure from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Sharma also highlighted the disarray within the NDA, stating that former BJP allies have either split from the alliance or accused the saffron party of betrayal. In contrast, he pointed out that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), despite being out of power since 2014, has remained intact and even gained new constituents.
During the press conference, Sharma released the Congress’ document titled “Seven Years, Seven Questions” in Bihar. He criticized the Narendra Modi government’s policies, asserting that they have harmed the state. Sharma drew attention to the reduction in recruitment by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), both of which have adversely affected Bihar’s talented youth. He also mentioned the significant protests in the state against the Agnipath scheme due to the armed forces being a popular career choice for Bihari youth.
In summary, the Congress party has voiced its concerns about trusting leaders like KCR and Kejriwal due to their alleged support for the BJP in the past. Nonetheless, they have left the decision regarding alliance formation to Nitish Kumar. The party also highlighted the disarray within the NDA while emphasizing the resilience of the Congress-led UPA. Additionally, they criticized the Modi government’s policies, arguing that they have negatively impacted Bihar.
