Post-Bihar, Cong may not go alone

“Ekla chalo re (go it alone)” could have become the signature tune of the Congress in the days ahead but for the drubbing it got in Bihar elections.

“Ekla chalo re (go it alone)” could have become the signature tune of the Congress in the days ahead but for the drubbing it got in Bihar elections.

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The failure of its ‘go it alone’ experiment in Bihar– where the Congress contested all the 243 assembly seats but could manage to bag only four— has forced the party leadership to pursue coalition politics for the time being.

The party is likely to avoid any direct reference to coalition politics in its political resolution that would be taken up for discussion and adoption at the three-day plenary in Burari on the outskirts of Delhi from December 18.

“It’s a reality. Coalition politics is here to stay for some time. The matter did not even come up for discussion at our meetings,” a member of the party’s draft committee said.

This means the Congress would continue to look for alliances in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala, where assembly elections are due next year.

“We cannot simply wish away coalition politics. We will have to continue with the policy for the time being even though there may be the usual coalition pangs,” another senior party functionary said.

A section in the Congress was in favour of going it alone in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to pursue the line of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi. He has often spoken about going it alone in key states such as Uttar Pradesh.