#Battle For 2024 : Has The Congress Given Up The fight Already ?

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As the battle for 2024 Lok Sabha Polls heats up the the Congress party it seems has already put itself in the back- foot and done self- goal  even before the first vote has been cast . At a time when the national mood is seen in favour of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, the Congress party has distanced itself from attending the inauguration ceremony.

After days of speculation , whether they will attend or give it a miss , Congress party has finally made It’s stand clear. It has announced that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have “respectfully declined” the invitation to attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, alleging that it has been made into a “political project” by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for “electoral gain”. In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh questioned the motive behind the inauguration of the “incomplete” temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS.

This Congress stance is likely to hit their prospects in the Lok Sabha polls   . Particularly in hindi heartbelt states – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh . The states where the party is already bereft of leadership as well as a prominent leader who can take on the BJP. The results of the recently concluded assembly polls prove how tough it will be for the Congress. It will be miracle if they fare well.

Now with the party snubbing the Ram Temple inauguration it will  in probability face  existential crisis if voters turn their angst against the party in the Lok Sabha Polls. Mind you in the  direct face- off with the BJP in hindi heartland states, BJP armed with the Ram Temple issue will have a massive  edge over the Congress .  Without substantial seats in Hindi heartbelt the Congress cannot  upset the BJP  from Centre.

That the BJP would  come out all guns blazing with the Ram Temple issue  in Lok  Sabha Polls 2024 was  foreseen  by Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor .  Tharoor said  the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on the issue of Hindutva by projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “Hindu Hriday Samrat”.  In post on X, Tharoor wrote, “The message is clear. In 2009, Mr Modi was sold to the Indian electorate as the avatar of economic development, the CEO of Gujarat Inc., who would bring development to all Indians. In 2019, with that narrative collapsing in the wake of the disastrous demonetisation, the Pulwama terrorist attack gave Mr Modi the opportunity to convert the general election into a national security election,”  Tharoor reportedly said.

“In 2024, it is clear the BJP will now revert to its core message and offer Narendra Modi to the nation as a Hindu Hriday Samrat,” he added. “Hindu Hriday Samrat” literally translates to the emperor of Hindu hearts.

Already the  Temple blitz  is seen all over the  TV News channels  and the  Congress  snub  is been seen a  blunder and case of  missing the bus yet again. There is no doubt BJP will go to the electorate  showcasing it’s promise of building  grand Ram Temple  . The Congress will have a  tough time to convince the electorate  that they are not anti- hindu or anti- ram. Given the BJP machinery and the supported by Godimedia it will not be easy ride.

As the focus of the nation is on Ayodhya and January 22 inauguration, the Congress party has gone ahead and is set to start another yatra led by Rahul Gandhi – Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Imphal January 14 and ends in Mumbai on March 20 . The yatra, being organised ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, will cover 110 districts and 100 Lok Sabha seats in 66 days.

Moreover,   How beneficial the yatra and how costly the move to boycott Ram Temple event  will be seen   in the Lok  Sabha polls 2024 . So crunch time for the GOP.