Congress not interested in PM post, Kharge tells conclave

BENGALURU: Congress’s participation in the 26-party opposition alliance isn’t driven by any interest in “power or the PM’s post”, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday in his opening remarks at the Bengaluru conclave. He said “social justice and protecting the idea of India, the Constitution, secularism and democracy” remain his party’s primary goals.

“I had said this in Chennai on (M K) Stalin’s birthday. Our intention behind joining this meeting is to have a for-midable nationwide alliance against BJP,” sources quoted him as saying at the closeddoor event.

Drawing on a common theme, Kharge said, “The CBI, ED and income tax department are routinely used against us. False criminal cases are filed against our leaders so that they get caught in the legal process. Constitutional authorities are used to suspend our MPs. MLAs are being blackmailedor bribed to move to BJP and topple governments. ”

The AICC chief acknowledged differences among the constituents of the new alliance across states, but said they shouldn’t stop them from finding common ground. “These differences are not ideological, and they are not big. We all need to keep our differences aside for the sake of protecting the common people,” he said.

Kharge said that unlikeBJP-led NDA, a shared vision of working for the people was the glue that would keep the opposition alliance intact.

“We are 26 parties here. Together, we are in government in 11 states today. BJP did not get 303 seats by itself. It used the votes of its allies and came to government, and then discarded them. Today, the BJP president and their leaders are running from state to state to patch up with their old allies. ”