Opposition alliance mustn't be at cost of containing Congress: Khurshid
What's the story
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid feels it is difficult for the party to come to power on its own in the present situation.
However, the former Union Law Minister said the opposition alliance must not be formed at the "cost of containing Congress".
Allies should also be ready to make sacrifices and adjustments for defeating the BJP in the 2019 general elections, he said.
Alliance
The alliance must not be for containing Congress: Khurshid
"All our leaders have made it very clear that an alliance (is needed) to change the country's government. BJP must go," Khurshid said.
"Whatever it takes to sacrifice, adjust and negotiate to make the alliance a reality, Congress is willing to do," he added.
"But it is only fair that it should be the same attitude of other (opposition) parties," he said.
The Congress
Difficult for Congress to come to power on its own'
When asked whether it's possible for Congress to come to power on its own, Khurshid said, "It is obviously difficult today."
"We are committed...and we will do our very best to ensure that the alliance succeeds," he said.
Congress is the only party that gets seats from all over the country and all other (opposition) parties get seats from their respective states, he said.
State Assembly polls
BSP, SP not to ally with Congress for Assembly polls
Khurshid's comments on the alliance come in the backdrop of the opposition's efforts to stitch a united front against BJP before the 2019 elections and BSP chief Mayawati's decision to go it alone in the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
Samajwadi Party also decided not to ally with Congress in Madhya Pradesh, blaming it of being "non-committal for too long".
The objective
Khurshid on the objective of the grand alliance
Khurshid said the grand alliance's objective is to defeat the Modi government.
"If the participants of the grand alliance forget this objective...obviously it won't happen and it will be a loss for every party and the country," he said.
"Once these five state elections give us some indications of what the public mood is, tying up the grand alliance may become easier," Khurshid said.
Prime Minister post
Prime Minister post not an issue in forging alliance: Khurshid
"The post of Prime Minister won't be an issue in forging the grand alliance when opposition leaders have clearly said that the issue will be decided once the alliance wins the election," Khurshid said on some raising the issue of Prime Ministership.
"I think those who are raising this issue (Prime Ministership) do not want us to succeed against the BJP," he said.
Quote
Time to give the best to Congress: Khurshid
While speaking on the revival of Congress, Khurshid hailed party President Rahul Gandhi for "infusing fresh energy and determination" into the party and said it was a time for making sacrifices and give the best to the party.
'Disastrous' govt
Khurshid rated the Modi government as 'disastrous'
Also, while talking about the Modi government and the foreign policy of the present dispensation, Khurshid said the Modi government had failed to build upon on what they had got from the previous governments and nothing much to show in terms of accomplishments.
Khurshid rated the four-and-half-year-old Modi government as "disastrous" and said it had injected disharmony in the society.