Putting behind him past differences, those created by election speeches and fundamental divisions on foreign policy issues, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today said that the party could still do business with the Left after the general elections.
While interacting with reporters here, Gandhi expressed hope that the Left would accept Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister and that with its help, a Congress government would be installed in Delhi. Although, “in a democracy, if it so happens, we have no choice,” he said in a reply to a question whether the Congress would sit in the Opposition.
However, that there was a difference in approach in the three major parties — the BJP, the Left and the Congress — was acknowledged and flagged by Gandhi. He said while the BJP only spoke of growth, the Congress believed in growth with equity. The Left only spoke of distribution and distributive justice. But where would distribution come from unless there was growth? he asked.
The young Congress leader said while there could be no compromise with the BJP because of its other baggage, a common slate with the Left was not impossible, paving the way for another possible round of negotiation with the Left if the post-poll scenario so demanded.
Asked if the Congress would support the Left parties, which had supported the UPA for over four years, in forming the government, Gandhi 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”.
On asked whether the Congress would consider a post-poll tie-up again with the Left for forming the government in case of a hung verdict, Gandhi said: “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 the BJP for what they did in Gujarat and Karnataka and burnt Christians in Orissa.”
Meanwhile, as Rahul tried to woo the Left and JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar today, the communist parties rebuffed his overture saying they will not “oblige” the Congress this time while the chief minister who was warmly praised for development in Bihar ruled out joining the UPA.
The good words the AICC general secretary had for Nitish, a key NDA ally, for his work in Bihar rankled UPA allies RJD and LJP whose leaders appeared to be unhappy.
