Mallikarjun Kharge says Jharkhand Election Phase 1 voting indicates...

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sataurday the elections to 43 Assembly seats in the first phase of Jharkhand polls indicate that the INDIA bloc is set to form government in the state. Kharge said in Jharkhand on Saturday, “The voting on 43 seats in the first phase in Jharkhand has been completed on November 13. The INDIA bloc is set to form the government in Jharkhand with a huge majority.”

While speaking in Ranchi, Kharge said, “Polling for 43 Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand has concluded, and it is clear that the INDIA bloc  will form the government again.” INDIA bloc partners, including the Congress, the JMM and the RJD, are fighting the 2024 Jharkhand election in an alliance.

“I congratulate the women voters for their enthusiastic participation. We saw the excitement over our ‘Maiya Samman Yojana,’ and from December, we will provide ₹2,500 to women instead of ₹1,000,” Kharge said.

Kharge hits out at PM Modi

Kharge hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he is not working for people’s welfare but to save his chair. The Congress chief alleged, “PM Modi does not work for the poor, but for himself.”

He pointed to rising inflation and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities as evidence of PM Modi's failure to address public concerns.

Kharge said PM Modi will never condemn the BJP's controversial "batenge to katenge" slogan, which he claimed was designed to polarise voters.

He also alleged that the Centre had blocked crucial legislation, such as a bill passed by the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand to increase reservations for SC/ST/OBCs.

"In Jharkhand, the proposal to increase the reservation for OBC from 14% to 27%, ST from 26% to 28% and SC from 10% to 12% was passed in the Assembly. But the matter got stuck when it reached the Governor. The order was not passed by him...," he said.

Kharge further questioned PM Modi's track record, particularly his long tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and then as Prime Minister. He asked, "After spending about 25 years in power, could he manage to eradicate poverty in Gujarat?"

Voting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly is scheduled to be held in two phases on November 13 and 20 and counting on November 23.

(With inputs from PTI)