Sonia continues to be UPA chairperson: Moily

January 30, 2018 15:54

Sonia Gandhi continues to be the UNited Progressive Allaince chairperson because of her ability to pull the allies together, Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said today, amid attempts at building a united opposition to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party.

There were speculations on whether Rahul Gandhi would step into the position after he recently became the Congress president, a post held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for 19 years.

"Sonia Gandhi continues to be UPA chairperson... because she can pull people (UPA allies) together. She has demonstrated (this) in 2004 and 2009," Moily told PTI.

Asked if he was "surprised" by the "active interest" shown in recent times by NCP chief Sharad Pawar towards bringing opposition parties together, the Congress leader said he was not.

Pawar and leaders of some political parties held a march on January 26 in Mumbai to "save" the Constitution, which they said was under "assault".

Opposition parties, including the Congress, met at Pawar's residence in New Delhi yesterday and discussed various crucial issues on which a united strategy was sought.

"We are not surprised, he (Pawar) has been part of both the UPA (governments). The UPA is still intact. No one has walked out of the UPA. Both in 2009 and 2004, he (Pawar) has been part of our alliance. It's not a surprise", he said.

Moily also said political parties opposed to the BJP should forge a broad alliance to derive "national strength" to fight against the Amit Shah-led party.

The former Karnataka Chief Minister said all opposing parties are planning a possible alliance "now that it is very clear that the target of the BJP is to demolish constitutional aspirations".

He alleged that the BJP has no faith in the Constitution, secularism, socialism and inclusive politics and gives only lip service to B R Ambedkar. -- PTI

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