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INDIA bloc PM within 48 hrs, party with max seats ’natural claimant’ to leadership, says Jairam Ramesh
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh predicts a decisive mandate for the INDIA bloc in Lok Sabha polls, with a quick decision on the prime ministerial pick.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday that the INDIA bloc will get a "decisive mandate" in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and may take less than 48 hours to decide on its prime ministerial pick. He asserted that it stands to reason that the party that gets the maximum seats in the alliance will be a "natural claimant" for its leadership.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, Ramesh exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will get seats above the 272 needed for a majority in the Lower House. He said the NDA parties may join the coalition when the INDIA parties come to power.
When asked if the doors would remain open for NDA allies like JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu after the polls, the Congress leader remarked, “Nitish Kumar is the master of 'palti' (volte-face).”
"Naidu was with the Congress in alliance in 2019. I would say when INDIA janbandhan parties will get the people's mandate, then not only INDIA parties but also some NDA parties may join the coalition. The high command of the Congress, Kharge ji, Rahul ji, Sonia ji, will have to decide whether to include them in the INDIA bloc," he told PTI.
He further stated that the difference between INDIA and NDA is of two I's -- I for 'insaniyat' and 'I' for 'imaandaari'. “Those parties that have 'imaandaari (honesty)' and 'insaniyat (humanity)', but are in the NDA, will join the INDIA parties. I think we are going to be large-hearted in victory -- no politics of vendetta, no politics of vengeance."
Interestingly, PM Modi will meditate at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial for two days, the same Vivekananda memorial from where Rahul Gandhi started the Bharat Jodo Yatra on September 7, 2022, he said, adding that “I am sure he (Modi) is going to be meditating on what life is going to be after retirement.”
“I don't want to get into numbers but all I am saying is that we (INDIA bloc) will get a clear and decisive majority. 273 is a clear majority but it is not decisive. When I say clear and decisive, I mean well above 272 seats,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)
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Business NewsElectionsINDIA bloc PM within 48 hrs, party with max seats ’natural claimant’ to leadership, says Jairam Ramesh
First Published:30 May 2024, 10:27 AM IST
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