New Delhi, Dec 4: The Congress on Monday said the Assembly poll outcome in three states has been disappointing, but the party is not dejected and will soon hold deliberations to analyse it and prepare for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
After a meeting of the party’s parliamentary strategy group, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the election results in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan have certainly been disappointing, but the party has not lost hope and will emerge stronger after introspection.
“The results in the Assembly elections are certainly disappointing but we are not dis-spirited and certainly not dejected. Our resolve is strong.
“We accept the verdict. It fell far below our expectations and we are analysing these results in detail. But our resolve remains undiminished. We will fight even harder. This is a temporary setback, but it only strengthens our resolve,” he told reporters.
Ramesh said “we will fight the Lok Sabha polls strongly and start preparing for it”, adding that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has called an informal meeting of like-minded political parties on December 6.
Addressing the media after the parliamentary strategy group meeting, which was convened by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Monday evening, Ramesh said the party will participate in the discussions on key bills that the government introduces during the Winter Session of Parliament and raise its concerns.
He said the party will soon form its government in Telangana and fulfil the role of a responsible opposition in the three states where it lost elections.
“We will certainly hold discussions on the poll results and delve into the reasons for this kind of results. We will not just look behind but look forward too and we are preparing for the (2024) Lok Sabha election,” Ramesh said.
“The Congress party is conscious of the fact that the time before the Lok Sabha election is very short and we will be preparing in all earnest, with vigour and determination, and this temporary setback will only strengthen our resolve and that was the message of the CPP chairperson,” the former Union minister said, adding that the analysis would be done in the next few days.
Describing three bills seeking to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Evidence Act as “dangerous ones”, he said the Congress will oppose those strongly in Parliament as a proper discussion was held on the proposed legislations during the meetings of the standing committee looking into those.
Ramesh said it will also oppose a Bill on the appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners in Parliament.
“All of us will participate in the debates on the various bills proposed by the government and raise our objections and concerns. We are against some bills, especially those seeking to replace the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act, because those are very dangerous and our MPs have raised concern and given dissent notes too. (PTI)
