Congress 85th plenary session: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Sonia Gandhi addressed leaders in Nava Raipur today (February 25) on the Day-2 of the party's 85th plenary session.
At the start of the second day of the three-day conclave, the Congress president released a book, and party general secretaries submitted their respective reports. Afterward, Kharge addressed the mass gathering.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today said his party looks forward to forging a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties in order to get rid of the anti-people BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and is ready to make any sacrifices required to achieve the goal.
"In the prevailing difficult circumstances, the Congress is the only party in the country that can provide capable and decisive leadership," he asserted. From 2004 to 2014, the Congress-led alliance with like-minded parties served the people of the country, Kharge said.
"We once again look forward to forging a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties to defeat the anti-people and undemocratic BJP government. We at ready to strive for the welfare of the people of our country and (will make) whatever sacrifices that are required for our goal for the upcoming state assembly elections and the 2024 elections," the Congress chief said.
In a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, Kharge said the DNA of those sitting in Delhi is "anti-poor" as they are attempting to destroy democracy, and called for a people's movement against the prevailing situation in the country. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the one who calls himself "pradhan sevak" is serving the interests of his friends.
In his address at the party's plenary session, Kharge alleged that there is a "conspiracy to destroy democracy" in India, but the Congress is working to unite everyone. He also hit out at the BJP-led Centre for steps such as demonetisation, GST rollout and a "continued assault on constitutional values".
A thanksgiving statement for former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was read out at the session following which she delivered her address.
Day-2 Events:
The delegates deliberated upon the political, economic and international affairs resolutions, according to the programme list shared by the Congress party.
What happened on Day-1:
On the first day of the session, the Congress steering committee unanimously decided not to hold elections to the CWC and authorised the party chief to nominate its members. The decision was taken at the Kharge-led steering committee meeting which members of the Gandhi family skipped.
Later in the day, the party's subjects committee held its first meeting in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were also present soon after they arrived on Friday (February 24). The meeting saw deliberations on the six resolutions to be adopted at the session.
The session, which comes in the backdrop of the Bharat Jodo Yatra that has been touted as a success by the party, is being attended by around 15,000 delegates.
(With ANI inputs)
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