CWC meet to decide alliance strategy

Party keen on shifting political discourse from air strikes.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will send out an important message from Ahmedabad on Tuesday on the need for all democratic forces to come together to defeat the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Media Sources told the Congress wants to send a strong political signal that the party is ready to take on Mr. Modi on his home turf.

Apart from stressing on the ‘Congress’ legacy’ of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhai Patel — two of the tallest icons from Gujarat — March 12 also marks the launch of the historic Dandi March in 1930.

Before the CWC formally starts its deliberations at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel memorial centre, party leaders would hold a prayer meeting at Gandhiji’s Sabarmati Ashram.

The CWC, which is meeting in Gujarat after a gap of 58 years, is expected to give final shape to the party’s political strategy including the tricky issue of alliances.

After the CWC meet, Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally at Gandhinagar. His sister and newly appointed general secretary Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra is expected to address the rally.

Hardik’s entry

Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who led a quota agitation for the Patel community, will formally join the party at the rally and is likely to be a Lok Sabha candidate.

The Congress is keen on resetting the national political narrative to the “failures of the Modi government” from the dominant “ultra nationalism” of the post-Pulwama discourse.

“Once the next government takes charge, there must be a White Paper on

1. Decision-making & impact of demonetisation


2. Unemployment situation since 2014


3. GDP statistics


4. Utilisation of fuel taxes & cess


5. Use of public funds for political campaigning.

India needs answers,” tweeted senior leader Ahmed Patel.

“There are serious livelihood issues; there is the issue of farm distress; there is an issue of demonetisation, there is the issue of how badly GST has been implemented to destroy small enterprises. How Mahatma Gandhi NREGA programmes have been completely subverted. So, these are the real issues in the election,"said senior leader Jairam Ramesh.