Congress's 2019 poll strategy: State allies to help Grand Old Party revive its roots?

The Congress Working Committee today authorised Rahul Gandhi to take decisions on pre-poll or post-poll alliances for next year's general elections.

The Congress is prepared for a "larger alliance" to defeat the National Democratic Alliance, a coalition led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, in 2019, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

The NDA government sailed through a trust vote on Friday, after a drama-filled day whose highlight was Rahul Gandhi's surprise bear hug for the prime minister -- and, of course, the quick little wink that followed it.