Troublesome path created by the Narendra Modi government during the election time

Shri K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary (Organisation), AICC and Shri Jairam Ramesh, MP and General Secretary (Communications), AICC address the media at the Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi on June 8, 2024.

Shri K.C. Venugopal said- Today, extended CWC had met to discuss about the Lok Sabha elections. Among the CWC members out of 37, 32 leaders attended it, Permanent invitee out of 30, 26, special invitee, out of 14, 12, out of 33 PCC President 29, out of 22 CLP leaders, 18 and that was the total attended is 120 people out of 139 and around 35 people, other than leaders participated in the discussion. We had a thorough discussion of 3 and half hours about the election results of 2024. We have discussed about the various issues like campaigning and our guarantee schemes. Certainly, the troublesome path created by the Narendra Modi government, during the election time. We already told several times - this election was very much new for our Parliamentary democracy system. We have been asking for a level-playing field for the Opposition Party, which we didn’t get from Union government or the party. Despite these things, you people know that, they froze our accounts during the election time itself. They black-mailed some of our leaders with the ED and CBI and all other agencies. Some of the people have fallen in their trap.

In spite of all this type of intimidation against the Opposition party done by the government side, we have done a wonderful performance in the Parliament election. Basically, our journey was a very troublesome journey, very difficult for us, but our Congress workers from bottom to top, workers to leaders fought like a warrior to save this country, to save the democracy of this country, to save the Constitution of this country. Now, the CWC has discussed - we had a little bit of a problem in some of the states, where we had done badly, that also CWC today discussed. Basically, the atmosphere in the CWC is entirely different than the atmosphere four months before. Our workers are charged, leaders are charged and now the revival of the Congress Party has been started, this is the sentiment of the CWC. Everybody thought that Congress is going to be finished, then what will happen. Even after election also, final day, the exit poll came, that exit poll, this election was a very-very tough fight, we have to fight against exit polls also, three days we fight against the exit polls.

First evening, exit poll came. Our communication department was fighting against the exit polls first, second, third till fourth. Therefore, why this had happened because there are several attempts to divert the entire agenda of Congress and INDIA Alliance to divisive politics. The BJP government had only one agenda: Narendra Modi led… BJP had only one agenda to divide the people. No answer of unemployment, no answer of price rise, no answer of Agniveer issue, but Congress Party and INDIA Alliance stood very strongly in that way that stick with our guarantees, our narrative. This CWC unanimously acknowledged the greater service done by our Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Ji and former President Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji, Rahul Gandhi Ji, and Priyanka Gandhi Ji for making Congress Party in such a level. We adopted two resolutions.

Another resolution we had passed unanimously. CWC unanimously requested Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji to take the Leader of the Opposition position in the Lok Sabha. Therefore, I think the entire CWC feel that the current scenario of Indian politics for a better and strong vigilant Opposition, those who want to protect the Constitution also, should be safe under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi Ji as a Leader of Opposition, this is what is the CWC resolution.

Thank you!

Shri Jairam Ramesh said - let me briefly say that in this resolution, it has been said that the 2024 elections are a personal, political and moral defeat of Narendra Modi ji. This is a victory of the people, victory of farmers, victory of youth, victory of Dalits, tribals, backward classes, victory of workers, victory of women. This is a victory to protect the Constitution and Rahul ji reiterated this in the meeting today that the campaign of social and economic justice that we had run, the propaganda that we had done to protect the Constitution, regarding caste census, which have been repeatedly mentioned by the Congress President and Rahul ji, the guarantees that we have given regarding farmer justice, they have also mentioned this.

On another question that has Shri Rahul Gandhi accepted the request to become Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha,

Shri K.C. Venugopal said- Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji has had a sentiment of the CWC. He told the CWC that he will take a decision very soon.

On another question that you have just congratulated INDIA Alliance for performing exceedingly well in Bengal, what about the Congress’ performance in Bengal though we know that TMC has performed very well So have you discussed Congress’ performance inside CWC for Bengal, Shri K.C. Venugopal said- Exactly, we told that wherever we have not performed like other states, some states are there… We are going to have a thorough examination of the results in the states. Certainly, the Congress President is going to put up a committee for the state and will have a thorough deliberation with the senior leaders and the other party workers and we will come out with a clear-cut statement after that.

On another question Shri K.C. Venugopal said- We have already told that wherever we have a poor performance in 2024 election, Congress President is going to constitute a committee to look after and thorough investigation, after that we will take a call.

On another question that you just said that committees will be setup in all the states where the performance has not been up to the mark for the Congress but what about states ruled by the Congress currently, what steps Congress is taking now in those states,

Shri K.C. Venugopal said- No! It is applicable for every state wherever the performance was not there on the expected level and we will go through this exercise.

On another question about CWC discussion, Shri K.C. Venugopal said- Today, our discussion is very clear, analysis on Lok Sabha election. Nothing else.