Election 2019: Opposition Victory Possible Through Sacrifice And Compromise, Says Sam Pitroda

A united opposition will come together to form the government at the centre through “sacrifice and compromise”, according to Sam Pitroda, chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress.

The Congress party has faced a lot of criticism in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election for its inability to form alliances, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. But Pitroda said regardless of their differences, the idea of a united India will bring together opposition leaders after May 23.

The Congress is in talks with all potential allies, including Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, Jagan Reddy in Telangana and Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh, Pitroda told Sanjay Pugalia, editorial director of Quintillion Media, in an interview. He, however, didn't rule out that the party is in alliance talks with everyone but Mayawati.

Pitroda also put down the Congress' inability to strike partnerships to “unfair” negotiations by potential allies. The Congress is a national party and so naturally people expect more from it, he said. “They think they can take advantage of us and through us, they want to build a national party. And then negotiations fall apart.”

Smaller parties, according to Pitroda, have the attitude of “it's my way or highway”. “If everyone we negotiated with wants to become Prime Minister, then things fall,” he said.

Yet, he's confident that all major opposition parties will rise above petty politics and come together to overthrow the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Watch the interview here: