Rahul asks Congress to fight elections together

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a strong warning to the warring factions within the party, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday urged party leaders to join together to fight the coming elections to state assembly unitedly to regain power for another five year term.

''I am sure, the CPI (M) cannot defeat the Congress in Kerala. Only Congress can defeat Congress. It is not the time to fight with each other. All of them should join hands at least for a couple of months with an aim to win the elections. Once the election is over, you are more than welcome to fight with each other. I am ready to come here to listen to each one of you,'' Gandhi told party leaders at the Indira Bhavan here.

Rahul’s warning assumed significance in the wake of moves by certain top party leaders for a leadership change in the Congress-led UDF Government.

He gave a strong indication that the AICC stood firmly behind Chief Minister Oommen Chandy against whom allegations were levelled in the bar bribe and solar scam cases.

Stating that there was no compromise on the issue of corruption, he made it clear that the party would not hesitate to take action if concrete evidence was produced.

Addressing the meeting of the KPCC executive, he called upon the leaders to fight the elections as one letting go off all differences. ''We have extremely talented leaders in Kerala. Each one of you have your own strength and weaknesses. It is time for everyone to stand together and face the elections unitedly.''

Giving a strong signal to the party leaders that he would not listen to any demand for a leadership change,' Rahul said the priority was to win the elections. He was ready to listen to the complaints against each other only after the elections.

The Congress only could protect the interests of the poor as the BJP and the Left parties were least interested in the cause of common people.

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