INDIA bloc will win Lok Sabha polls, says Congress
‘Narendra Modi’s ‘400-plus’ hype has been crushed to the ground after the first and second phases of elections,’ says Venugopal
The Congress party, which leads the principal opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), has expressed confidence in forming the next government after the second phase of national elections.
Congress and its allies hope to sweep all Tamil Nadu and Kerala seats and make significant gains in states like Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar that went to the polls.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim of winning more than 400 seats in the 543-member national parliament would remain a dream.
“Narendra Modi’s ‘400-plus’ hype has been crushed to the ground after the first and second phases of elections. INDIA bloc is definitely going to win this time,” he said.
“Modi is now attempting to polarise the electorate on religion. Congress is very confident about winning with a high majority in Rajasthan, Bihar and other states.” In the first phase, on April 19, elections were held in 101 seats across 21 states, including all 39 in Tamil Nadu.
On Friday, the second phase saw the election of all 20 constituencies in Kerala and 68 seats in 12 other states.
In addition to Venugopal (Alappuzha), top Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi (Wayanad) and Dr Shashi Tharoor (Trivandrum) contested from Kerala.
“From the feedback I received from the states (that went to the poll in the first two phases, I’m sure of Modi’s imminent fall. So he’s jittery,” Venugopal said.
“His brazen attempt to polarise the electorate has failed. People have begun to see through his evil diversionary tactics. We are witnessing a change, especially in northern India.”
“He (Modi) has lost cool for fear of losing power. Let alone a prime minister, no politician should have uttered such venomous words,” Venugopal said.
“Fortunately, Indian people have started realising that he was trying to polarise them for electoral gains, to divert real issues of price rise and unemployment.” In Kerala, Congress and its INDIA ally, Communist Party of India-marxist (CPIM) are leading rival fronts while pollsters predict massive advantage for the former as in 2019.
However, candidates of both Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the ruling CPI-M’S LDF are worried about a sharp fall in voter turnout by around five per cent.
The southern state recorded a polling percentage of 71.27 (excluding home and postal ballot) this time, compared to a total of 77.84 in 2019.
The rival fronts hope the lower turnout, attributed mainly to high temperature and large-scale emigration for education and employment, will not affect their prospects.
The polling, which was supposed to conclude by 6pm, continued late into the night.
In the Vadakara constituency, which recorded the highest turnout, it ended around midnight.
Dr Tharoor said he was confident about the INDIA bloc forming the next government, riding on Rahul Gandhi’s popularity after his foot march across India.
“The Congress is doing well, particularly following the two Bharat Jodo Yatras of Rahul Gandhi, which attracted vast attention and adulation,” he said.
“I believe the results on June 4 (the day of vote counting) will spring a surprise and demonstrate we have tightened our grip rather than lost it.” He said an INDIA bloc-led government will be centred around the Congress’s nucleus, which will have a clear and well-articulated vision for the nation.
Premised on the 25 guarantees and five justice-based schemes outlined in its election manifesto, he said he could imagine no better formula for a coalition government.
Election authorities made meticulous arrangements at all polling stations, including facilities to handle extremely hot weather conditions, for the convenience of voters.
The authorities also deployed three helicopters, four special trains and nearly 80,000 vehicles to ferry polling and security officials. Webcasting was arranged in more than half of the polling stations and micro-observers were deployed in all polling stations.