Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress MP, believes that the upcoming election is much more competitive than what the media portrays. Drawing parallels to the unexpected outcome of the ‘India Shining’ campaign era under former Prime Minister Vajpayee, Gandhi remains optimistic about Congress’s chances. He emphasizes the importance of remembering past election results that defied popular expectations.
During the launch of the party’s election manifesto ‘Nyay Patra’ in Delhi, Gandhi addressed the media, stating that the election is a neck-and-neck battle. He recalls how Congress triumphed despite the media’s portrayal during the ‘India Shining’ era. Gandhi also discussed the strategies used by RSS, BJP, and PM Modi, highlighting Modi’s alleged monopoly in political finance through the use of ED, CBI, and Income Tax.
Gandhi mentioned that the INDIA coalition is engaged in an ideological battle and will decide on their Prime Ministerial candidate after the election. The Lok Sabha elections are set to commence on April 19.
The Congress manifesto, ‘Nyay Patra,’ pledges reforms such as the right to apprenticeship, a statutory guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), and increasing reservation quotas for SCs, STs, and OBCs. The manifesto also addresses staffing shortfalls in the central government and promises a 10% reservation for the EWS in jobs and educational institutions across all castes and communities.
The launch of the manifesto was attended by Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, and it emphasizes five ‘pillars of justice’ along with 25 specific commitments.