Encouraged by the crowds gathering for the Congress party's 'Parivartan Sankalp' (Resolution for Change) yatra in Uttarakhand, state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal said on Saturday that change in the state is certain after the 2027 Assembly elections and that Congress is the only alternative to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, Godiyal also said that the opposition should unite to fight against the BJP, which, according to him, uses 'wrong methods' to win elections.
With the Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027 in mind, the Congress has been organizing the 'Parivartan Sankalp' yatra in 10 hilly districts of the state since June 29, holding public meetings at various locations.
Besides Godiyal, the programs are being led by Chakrata MLA and chairman of the Congress state election campaign committee Pritam Singh, former state Congress president Karan Mahara, and chairman of the state election management committee Harak Singh Rawat.
Speaking to PTI-Bhasha while touring the Kumaon region, Godiyal said that the party's 'Parivartan Sankalp' yatra has received an overwhelming response from people across the state, and judging by the public's enthusiasm, it appears that change is certain this time.
He claimed, 'People in the state have become troubled by unemployment, inflation, bullying, authoritarianism, the government's lies, and being made fools of. People are dissatisfied with the present government. They want change.'
The state Congress president said that people see hope in Congress as a solution to their problems and that Congress is the alternative to the BJP.
He said that this phase of the yatra will continue until July 8, after which the next phase will be organized in the plains of Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, and Haridwar.
When asked about the possibility of an alliance with the state's major regional party, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), and other opposition parties in the upcoming Assembly elections, Godiyal said that he believes everyone should unite against the BJP.
He said, 'The opposition's strength should come together against the wrong methods the BJP uses to win elections.'
However, Godiyal clarified that his statement should not be interpreted as Congress being weak in its ability to defeat the BJP.
When asked whether other opposition parties had offered an alliance, the state Congress president said that the decision on the matter rests with the party leadership."
