New Delhi: Amid reports of likely elevation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president, an NCP leader on Monday pitched for Sonia Gandhi’s continuance as party chief so she could work for reviving the fortunes of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to take on the “communal” BJP.
“If Soniaji gives up her party’s leadership, then it will send a wrong signal to the ruling party giving them sense that their pressure tactic is working. Also, such a move will demoralise Congress workers. So, she should continue to be in that slot,” NCP General Secretary Tariq Anwar told reporters.
Anwar said though none of the UPA constituent has deserted the alliance, its leaders have not met over the past two years since the NDA came to power and insisted that Gandhi should take the initiative to revive it to halt BJP’s “communal” juggernaut.
“Soniaji had reached out to top leaders of other parties in 2004 when the UPA-I was formed. Congress, being the largest opposition party, should again take the initiative to revive UPA,” he added.
The NCP Parliamentarian noted no “anti-BJP” Front can be formed sans Congress at the national-level. Anwar also sought to deflate BJP’s claims that the mandate the saffron party received in Assam was reflection of public acceptance of its policies and ideology, saying the NDA major’s victory was merely “strategic” as Congress did not take along any other secular party during the polls. (PTI)
