Secular Alliance Will Win 2019 Polls: Rahul Gandhi Addresses Media

Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference ahead of the seventh and final phase of elections.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference, ahead of the seventh and final phase of elections.

(Photo: PTI)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference, ahead of the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections, on Friday, 17 May, stating that a secular alliance will win the 2019 polls.

Gandhi said he does not see people like BSP chief Mayawati, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav supporting the BJP led by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, adding that a secular alliance will win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“I have said it clearly, public will decide on 23 May, and we will take a decision after receiving the people’s mandate.”

Rahul Gandhi, Congress President

‘EC Biased, Partiality Seen in Poll Schedule’

Gandhi also said that the Election Commission's role in these polls has been "biased" and it has issued orders keeping in mind Modi's schedule. He claimed that the BJP and Modi had a lot of money, but the Congress party had truth.

“I don’t like saying this, but the role of the Election Commission in this election has been biased. The PM says whatever he wants. There is partiality. The schedule of the entire poll has been made for Modi’s campaigning,” said Gandhi, adding that despite all this “truth will win.”

‘Will Respond to Hate With Love’

Responding to Modi’s remark calling Rajiv Gandhi “Corrupt No 1”, Rahul said he will respond to hate the prime minister throws with love.

“Whatever hate PM Modi throws at me, I will reply with love. If PM Modi’s mother and father, who are not in politics, have done anything wrong, I will never speak ill about them.”

Rahul Gandhi, Congress President

“I would have liked to see Narendra Modi actually take on the challenge in 2014. With all due respect, he lost sight of the real picture. He forgot the Indian people had not put him as the prime minister to just give speeches.” 

Rahul Gandhi, Congress President

On PM Modi’s First Press Conference

Rahul also “praised” PM Modi for holding his “first-ever” press conference in first years. He also took a sly dig at the media for being lenient towards the prime minister and asking Modi questions about his liking for fruits.

“Now that the prime minister is doing a live press conference. I want to ask him why didn’t he debate with me on Rafale? I had challenged him for a debate, tell the press why didn’t you debate?”

Rahul Gandhi, Congress President

However, it later turned out that Modi did not take any questions from the media.

‘Wanted to Push for Cong Ideology in UP’

When asked about the lack of alliance with the SP and BSP in Uttar Pradesh, the Rahul said that while he respected the Grand Alliance in the state, it was important for him to push the Congress party’s ideology.

“From the Congress party perspective, I have to push the Congress ideology in UP. I made it very clear to Jyotiraditya and Priyanka that priority number one is to make sure BJP losses. Priority number two is to push Congress ideology, priority number three is to win the Vidhan Sabha election,” he said.

However he said that ideologically he was on the same page as the two Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh.