People vote for BJP because they don’t have confidence in alternative, that’s where Congress has to step in: Shashi Tharoor

LUCKNOW: A day before the Congress party is going to elect the first non-Gandhi president after 24 years, its presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor said here on Sunday that People were voting for the BJP because they didn't seem to have enough confidence in an alternative.
Speaking at Metaphor Lucknow Litfest to launch the Hindi version of his book, he said: "I want Congress to be strong. Because, as you know, a large number of people are not satisfied with what's going on in the country. But perhaps when they look at us, they have an element of doubt whether the Congress will be successful."
"There must be several people in this room who might have been Congress supporters in the past but voted for the BJP in 2014 or in 2019, or in both the elections. In 2014, Modiji delivered nice speeches, promising a better economy and more employment. But after eight and half years, the economy has sunk and we have the highest-ever rate of unemployment," said the Thiruvananthapuram MP.
"When the prices keep rising, the rupee keeps falling and the 'notebandi' has ruined many, people think why should they vote for this party? But in opinion, and I maybe wrong, they (BJP) are getting lots of vote, because people don't seem to have faith in an alternative," the 66-year-old bureaucrat-turned-politician said, emphasizing that the party (Congress) must adopt decentralization, modernization and inclusiveness in order to step in as an alternative to the current regime.
“I firmly believe that if Congress brings changes within itself and goes among people with a new zeal, inform them about the party’s achievements---people will accept it and we will taste victory,” he said while interacting with the audience in chaste Hindi.
Tharoor, who is contesting against party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, said, “I know many have liked my idea on decentralization, modernization and inclusiveness, but there are still doubts among many members of the party about the changes and it’s natural. Therefore, it must be remembered that a party like Congress has stood rock solid in Indian politics till date because it has always been ready to accept changes whenever the time and situation demand.”
“There should be decentralisation in the party, so that all the decisions are not taken in Delhi. There is a perception that power is concentrated with few in the party and this needs to be dispelled by conducting internal elections," he said, adding that the opinion of the PCC delegates was important for the party.
“In 1991 we adopted a new economic system, in the 60s-70s we adopted the green revolution, during the difficult times in 1984 when we lost our leader, we elevated Rajiv Gandhi and adapted to the change of generation. Because of these changes, the party stood strong,” he said.
“The idea of the Indian Constitution is the ideology of Congress. We need to save our constitution and for that I have stood to contest the party president post poll. We need to take old experience with new energy to fight against the repressive regime,” he said.
Later, during an interaction with mediapersons at UP Congress headquarters, he said: " Congress is the only party in which elections are held for national office by adopting democratic system.”
He said, “Someone will win this poll, while someone will lose it. Whether Kharge Saheb wins, or I win, I am of the view that the Congress should emerge victorious.”
“I spoke to Rahul Gandhi, before I decided to contest the election for the party chief's post. Even Sonia Gandhi gave directives to Madhusudan Mistry, the party’s chief election authority, that Gandhi family was neutral. However, I know that some of my colleagues are indulging in ‘netagiri’, and telling the party workers that they know what Sonia Gandhi wants and whom she wants,” he took a veiled dig at the Kharge camp.
Voting will take place on October 17 in every state capital through a secret ballot. The election result will be declared on October 19. There are 9,300 delegates, including 1,250 from Uttar Pradesh, who are eligible to vote.