 "12 states to give Congress 150 seats, tie-up needed elsewhere: Chidambaram")
Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday told the Congress Working Committee that the party can win at least 150 seats on its own in 12 states where it is strong and it should forge alliances in other states in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to boost its numbers.
Sources said Chidambaram, a former Finance Minister, told the CWC, the party's highest decision-making body, that Congress should try for alliance with as many parties as possible, while strengthening the party in the 12 states to maximise gains.
The party has 48 members in the Lok Sabha at present.
Chidambaram's views were echoed by several other senior leaders and with some of them emphasising that Congress should be the pivot of alliances and Rahul Gandhi should be the face of the coalition.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also pitched for a wider alliance with regional parties as well at the national level.
He said people were now showing confidence in Congress.
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The CWC meeting was attended by all members, special invitees, former and present Chief Ministers and party secretaries.
Sources said party leaders Digvijay Singh and Janardan Dwivedi were also invited but they did not come.