Campaign | 2024 Indian general election |
---|---|
Affiliation | Indian National Congress |
Alliance | Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance |
Key people | Mallikarjun Kharge (Party President) Sonia Gandhi (CPP Chairperson) Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi |
Slogan | "Judega Bharat, Jeetega India"[1] India will unite, India will win "Nyay Ka Haq Milne Tak"[2] Until we get our right to justice "Haath Badlega Halaat"[3] The Hand will change the situation "Mere Vikaas ka do Hisaab"[4] Give accounts of my development |
Issue | Unemployment
Democratic backsliding |
Website | www |
The Indian National Congress is known as the Grand Old Party of India. The party had ruled India for most of its post independence period for nearly 54 years. The party led coalition United Progressive Alliance is in opposition bench in 16th Lok Sabha and 17th Lok Sabha against the National Democratic Alliance. The party is contesting the elections with the promise of upholding Nyay (justice), secularism, federalism, pluralism, democracy and constitutionalism.
The Congress campaign was launched from Nagpur at a huge rally in which over 1 million people were expected to attend in Nagpur, Maharashtra on 28 December 2023.[14] This rally also marked the 138th Congress Foundation Day and was being held to energise the party cadre for the 2024 Indian general election.[15] Party workers from all over the state were called to join the rally.[16][17]
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance jointly held a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on 17 March, a day after the end of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The rally was attended by Gandhi, SS(UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and DMK leader and Tamil Nadu chief minister M. K. Stalin, among many others.[18] At the rally, Gandhi said that he was compelled to launch his yatra due to rising inflation and unemployment in the nation.[19]
Rahul Gandhi has promised to conduct a nationwide caste census and remove the 50% cap on reservation if his party is elected to power. The 50% cap on reservation refers to the maximum amount of government jobs and educational seats that can be reserved for members of lower castes.[20][21]
On 27 December 2023, the Congress Party announced its sequel to the Bharat Jodo Yatra, known as Bharat Nyay Yatra, later renamed to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra ("India Justice and Unity March").[22] The march started on 14 January 2024 from Manipur and end on 20 March in Mumbai. It covered 6,700 kilometres across 15 states. Unlike the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which focused on campaigning against communalism and divisive politics, the Nyay Yatra focused on livelihood issues such as inflation and unemployment.[23][24] Like the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was also led by Rahul Gandhi.[25]
The Congress started a crowdfunding campaign known as Donate for Desh (Donate for [the] Country) ahead of the general elections. It formally launched the campaign's digital version on 18 December 2023 at a dedicated website (https://donateinc.net). It claimed to be inspired from Mahatma Gandhi's Tilak Swaraj Fund (1920–21). The physical version of the campaign, which be done via door-to-door collection drives, will be launched on 28 December.[26][27]
The campaign received ₹1.45 crore (US$175,000) on its first day, with the top 5 states in amount of donations being Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Karnataka.[28]
By the end of 2023, the campaign received around ₹9 crore (US$1.08 million), with 30% of the funds being collected from Telangana and Maharashtra alone.[29][non-primary source needed]
The campaign had collected about ₹20 crore (US$2.4 million) according to the party when on 28 January, it rebranded its crowdfunding campaign to Donate for Nyay (Donate for Justice), in line with Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.[30] The ensuing crowdfunding campaign collected 4 crores in 4 days.[31]
The Congress released their groups specific manifesto promises for the general election in the month of March.[32] The manifesto focuses on five major segments of population and promises for them:
The complete manifesto titled Nyay Patra (Hindi: न्याय पत्र, lit. 'Justice Paper') was released on 5th April 2024. [45] [46] Some salient points in the manifesto are (apart from above promises released earlier) :
Organisational War-Room
Communication War-Room