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An upbeat Congress General Secretary said that the NDA existed only in the mind of the BJP and not on the ground and confidently asserted that the saffron party will sit in the opposition.
At an hour-long press conference ahead of the fourth phase of polling on Thursday, Gandhi said the Congress would do better than in the last elections when it got 145 seats on its own.
"After elections, all options are open. ...We have always been open to post-poll alliances", he said at the media interaction, the third in the series, in which he had some good words for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu.
"I respect Naidu. He has done a good job....may be he focused on Hyderabad . I am not saying (only we have leaders) There are leaders who are in the opposition. Nitish for example ....I think the intention (to work) is there," he said replying to a question whether non-Congress governments are not doing well in the matter of development.
Earlier in the press conference, Gandhi said that Nitish Kumar's JD-U and Jayalalithaa's AIADMK, who were or are part of the NDA, were now facing the question (of options) because the NDA is "finished" throughout the country and was existing only in namesake.
"Nitish Kumar, Jayalalithaa and many like minded parties are feeling that the NDA is not winning. After elections all options are open".
Gandhi was sure that the Congress would form a government. "But in a democracy, if it so happens, we have no choice," he said in reply to a question whether the party was ready to sit in the opposition.
Asked about post-poll tie-up with the Left parties, he said there were ideological differences but there were also a lot of common points.
"....on a lot of concepts we agree with the Left like education and health. There is a lot of meeting ground with the Left. There is absolutely no meeting ground with BJP for what they did in Gujarat and Karnataka and burnt Christians in Orissa. There is a lot of common ground to do with the Left. There is a reasonable amount of common space," he replied.
"I am pretty confident that the Left will support a Manmohan Singh government. I am confident that the Left would rather have a Congress Prime Minister", he said adding "the field is open to post-poll alliances".
Asked whether the Congress would compromise on its Prime Ministerial candidate if the Left was not ready for Manmohan Singh, Gandhi said "Singh is the best Prime Ministerial candidate for the country. The Congress does not compromise on its thinking which it showed on the nuclear deal."
Saying his views on the Left was his personal, he said he did say that the Left had old ideas -- 20 to 30 years old view on nuclear deal -- and integration with global economy but he was confident that the Left would be forced to accept that the world has changed.
Asked if Congress would support the Left parties, which had supported the UPA for over four years, in forming the government, Gandhi appeared to be sarcastic when he said "we will consider that if the Left gets 180-190 MPs. We will consider them. I hope they are able to achieve that. If they do, I will be first person to say let us support Left".
Similarly, when asked if the party would back Sharad Pawar as Prime Minister, Gandhi said, "If the NCP becomes the biggest party in India then that option is open."
He dismissed as "figment of media's imagination" suggestions that the allies of Congress are not favouring Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.
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Sathya, the nonsense you wrote proves the truthfulness of the caption of your post. It is something rare that the writer provide the proof about what he/she say, at the same time. Congratulations at this rare accomplishment. Keep contaminating this forum. God Advani will bless you some day.
I am no congress man but i believe in honesty and non prejudicial views. Rahul atleast comes across as a sophisticated honest young man who dearly wants to change Indian politics. Being born in Gandhi family should not be held against him. He certainly needs more experience but he is on the right track and one hopes that the young Indians will support him. One can't help but to compare his speech with that of Modi's. Modi used the street language and vulgarised the very concept of politics. Who in their right mind would like to chose Modi as their leader??
It is strange that both congress
When BJP lost the Advani cried like a baby, he would not attand the parliament meetings, because he in his mind thought, that he was still the deputy PM of India. These guys are nincompoops, and their thinking is the thinking of cave like people.
When BJP lost the Advani cried like a baby, he would not attand the parliament meetings, because he in his mind thought, that he was still the deputy PM of India. These guys are nincompoops, and their thinking is the thinking of cave like people.
It is strange that both congress
It is amusing why the BJP is crying foul at Congress overtures. It is now pretty much clear that no Party or even a coalition is going to come anywhere near the magic figure. In such a scenario, post poll manoeuvures become inevitable and that is the reason why Modi extended olive branch to both Jaya and Maya. This despite being ditched often by the BSP with the alliance falling through and Jaya has a record of already having ditched the NDA once in 1998. But for the Jaundiced eyes of the Sanghi supporters all these seem right, but when Rahul extends a olive branch to JDU and the Left it is wrong. What a strange logic ?? Can any Sanghi tell me as to what is in common between the BSP and BJP or even between the JDU and BJP ?? JDU is a pseudo secular party in BJP's analogy and this time in Bihar, it has went all out in appeasing Muslims. But for the BJP all this appears right since the JDU is on its side. This is what is called perverted thinking.
Rahul, things are very easy. Support BJP to form the govt or take their support, if your Congress Co. gets more figures to form a govt rather than begging out with this empty bowl and receiving kicks at all points.
This is what Rahul Gandhi said yesterday as reported by your newspaper.QUOTEKeeping post-poll options for alliances open, Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence on Tuesday that the Left parties would back Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister and appeared to reach out to key BJP allies such as JD-U and TDP. UNQUOTEThis is what Abhishek Manu Singhvi said today.QUOTERahul Gandhi was referring to the past when the Left were in alliance with the Congress.UNQUOTEDoes the Congress consider the people to be fools? I am also surprised at the attention that the media is giving this uneducated scion of the Nehru- Gandhi dynasty. What has he achieved to deserve this attention?
What is wrong with this guy? Confidence - how ?? There should be some basis !! Is he eligible to demand or expect? Does he know on what basis the Left withdrew support? Tragedy of Indian politics. If such persons are planted to run this country, what will be the fate? The medias should show justice thinking of India's future.
On the 2nd, he attacks the Left as being inefficient, brutal and anti-poor. On the 5th, he says he is confident that he can work with the Left. Rahul can talk any lies bcos he hails from the royal family and the press does not ask the prince uncomfortable questions. Either what he said in Bengal or what he said in Delhi yesterday is a lie. This shows how desparate the Nehru family is to retain power in Delhi. They can be compared only to King Gyananendra and his son Paras in Nepal who tried all the tricks to retain power in Nepal. Indians shd take cue from Nepal and throw the modern dynasty in Delhi far into the Indian Ocean.
Rahul Gandhi has once again exposed his immaturity and impulsiveness by going far out to shake the unwilling hand of the left. It was his arrogance talking when he said that the left would support his party led by Manmohan Singh. He didn't even pause for a moment what impact his bravado would have on the prospects of his alliance with Mamta Bannerji in West Bengal. It is the season for clean chits, with CBI giving them freely to Tytler/Sajjan Kumar and Quottrocchi and Rahul has added his two bits by giving clean chits to Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu.
I think the young man has carried out a clean and healthy campaign despite some opponents hurling personal abuse at him in their biased comments. He is shaping up well and capturing the imagination of youth. There is a touch of realism in him, which makes him accept reality of coalition politics and not hanker after primeministership before his time has come.
I think Rahul's press conference was a breath of fresh air with clear sign of a honest and passionate personality. He just talked his heart out keeping in mind the practicality of his thought. India needs a leader who can think like that. It is not that he is the only one, but it is a fact that when Gandhis talk like this they are heard and discussed. Some cynic may label this sycophancy, but then sycophancy is not a phenomena that hampers Indian growth and integrity. As long as there is a Gandhi which connects to Indian ethos, there will be murmur of sycophancy but there will be a roar of development and nation building. That's what Gandhis has manged to provide to India as a legitimate representative of the people of this country. People on the street are the best judge, who I think the best thinking electorate in the whole world. I can see a definite sign of chill in the spine of BJP stooges, so these out of context comments are just reflecting that mood.
Rahul try to woo Left saying Congress party is ready to share Sonia Maino and her best friend Quattrocchi Swiss Bank deposits with the Left.In greed Left may support congress.
How about looking for support in Italy? Rahul is half Italian. Also how about supporting BJP since they will surely get 180-190 seats? No one has forgotten how Congress supported Charan Singh, and ditched him soon!
Well said Sir. I could'nt have put it more clearly. All the Congress stooges, including the clowns commenting to this article, need to answer this question. WHY IS MY COUNTRY STILL POOR AND CORRUPT INSPITE OF 46 YEARS OF CONGRESS RULE???
People, please dont fault young Ragul. He is not doing anything wrong, just following the time tested and hardy traditions of the Congress Party. It is natural practice for them to sttop low, lick the feet of anyone, try to embrace the very people the deplored (the left) or try to lure away allies of others (Nitish). So why this brohaha?? He is just follwoing the dirty, selfish, cheap and dispicable ways of that mother, father and grandmother have alwys followed!!
Rahul says that his father invented 20 years ago that only 10 paise out of 1 Re spent by Govt reaches the poor. This invention is not a rocket science. My simple question to Rahul is what his mother and MMS have done to improve the 10 paise. The nation would be happy to know even one paise increase has been ensured by his Govt during the past 5 years. There is clear cut link between 90 pisa and Swiss Bank accounts. The nation is not interested to hear the statistics from Rahul but to know what he has done and proposes to do.
It is a pity to see that only Gandhi family is interested in giving a stable government in this country of one billion. Does it mean all of us are not interested in having a better government to get a value for our earnings? It is the duty of all the political parties, families and individuals to give ourselves stable union and state governments.
its media like your and others who are determined to make this boy some one in indian politics.shame to you
GOING THROUGH THE INTERVIEW IT IS CLEAR CONGRESS MAKE UP THEIR MIND TO SIT IN OPPOSITION BUT NOT SUPPORT ANY THIRD FRONT OPTION, OR A MIRACLE OF SORT OF JOINING OF JD(U) AND TDP WITH THEM AND LOSING THEIR HOME GROUND IN BARGAIN.NOW IT IS CLEAR WHY CONGRESS NOT PROJECTED HIM AS THEIR PM CANDIDATE HE IS STILL MATURING AT THE AGE OF 38 LET HIM GO THROUGH IT FOR MORE 5 YEARS AND DO THE FIELD WORK.But it is refreshing and good hearing, he seems to be honest somewhat.
Handicapped,defeated,shameless Rahul begs left,right,south,North,East,West,up and down for support.We enjoy seeing congress parties Yuvraja Rahul begging.Nitish,Naidu and Left are saying Rahul gooooooooo... goooooooo..
To be next PM, Rahul can do anything.
congress party is once party of all region .now only sonia loyalist .what is RAHUL answer to BRING BACK INDIAN BLACK MONEY FROM SWISS BANK. I THING PEOPLE MUST GIVE A CHANCE TO MR ADVANY FOR HIS EXEPRINCE.