Congress VP Rahul Gandhi undecided on alliances in several states

NEW DELHI: Congress is looking at post-poll alliances rather than pre-poll tie-ups in most states, even though opinion polls and internal surveys point to a tough fight in 2014 parliamentary elections. Even as some state units are pressuring the leadership for pre-poll alliances, the high command prefers post-poll alliances after the picture becomes clear.

A clear signal of going slow on alliances is evident from the fact that the AK Antony panel on poll tie-ups has met only once since its formation a year back. The panel, which has M Veerappa Moily, Mukul Wasnik, Suresh Pachauri, Jitendra Singh and Mohan Prakash as members, has to address the key question of seat sharing in states where Congress does not have a strong organisation.

According to senior party leaders, one of the reasons for the delay in deciding alliances is because party vicepresident Rahul Gandhi has not made up his mind. “During internal discussions, Rahulji always talks about his idea of strengthening the organisation up to the grassroots. He speaks about the era of single-party rule. He believes alliances hurt the party base more at the state level and reduce chances of revival.

His main aim is to strengthen the organisation and convert the party into a cadre-based organisation like in the days of his grandmother,” a senior general secretary told ET. Another reason for postponing the decision is the confusing picture projected by surveys. A senior general secretary told ET, “The final call on alliances is likely to be taken only after the assembly polls.

Even then, Congress will announce pre-poll tie-ups only for states like Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, where the party does not have a strong organisation and the wherewithal to go it alone. But for other states, Congress would wait till after parliamentary polls to have tie-ups.” In Bihar, Congress holds only 2 of 40 seats. Congress would have to decide on a pre-poll alliance with either Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) or RJD-LJP combine.

It faces a similar predicament in TN, where it has been in alliance with either AIADMK or DMK since the 1970s. In Jharkhand, the party wrapped up a seat-sharing deal while facilitating JMM to form a government. Though RJD is a part of the JMM-led government, Congress clarified that it would not want any truck with Lalu Prasad’s party in Jharkhand for 2014 parliamentary elections.

In Punjab, of the 13 Lok Sabha seats, the party had won 8 in 2009. However, a recent party survey showed a sweep for SAD-BJP and gave Congress just two seats. The state unit is pressing for an alliance with ‘Sanjha Morcha’.