A day after encountering electoral setbacks in the recent polls held in the Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi convened a parliamentary strategy meeting at her residence at 10 Janpath in New Delhi on Monday.
Scheduled to commence at 6 pm, the meeting saw the attendance of numerous senior Congress leaders, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Shashi Tharoor, P Chidambaram, and party general secretary KC Venugopal.
This significant Congress gathering unfolded in the aftermath of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) consolidating its hold in the Hindi heartland with victories in the assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. While the Congress faced defeat in these states, it managed to oust the KCR-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana, offering some consolation amid the saffron wave.
In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP defied anti-incumbency to secure a resounding victory, maintaining its dominance for an impressive 18 years. The party secured 163 seats, achieving a substantial two-thirds majority in the 230-member House, while the Congress could only manage 66 seats despite its efforts.
Similarly, in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the Congress faced disappointment, securing 65 and 35 seats, respectively, leading to the relinquishment of power to the BJP. The BJP comfortably crossed the majority mark in both states.
Following the substantial defeat in the Hindi belt, Kharge convened a meeting of the INDIA alliance on December 6 to assess the political landscape and strategize for the future.
Acknowledging the mandate, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed humility and stated that the battle of ideology would persist. In a tweet, he said, "We humbly accept the mandate of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan - the battle of ideology will continue. I am very thankful to the people of Telangana - we will definitely fulfill the promise of making Prajalu Telangana."
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