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Congress "Absolutely Ready" for Polls, Questions EC's Date Announcement

Congress leader Pawan Khera declared the party's full preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory. He criticized the Election Commission for not consulting local stakeholders, especially with Easter approaching in Kerala. Khera expressed confidence that voters in Assam are fed up with the current government and ready for change. He also raised serious concerns about the Special Intensive Revision exercise, alleging it is being used to deliberately delete voters' names.

Key Points: Congress Ready for State Polls, Questions Election Commission

  • Congress claims readiness for state polls
  • Questions EC's consultation process
  • Alleges targeted voter deletion in Assam
  • Confident BJP won't gain in Tamil Nadu
2 min read

"Congress is absolutely ready": Pawan Khera after EC announces poll dates of elections in 4 states, 1 UT

Congress leader Pawan Khera says party is prepared for upcoming assembly elections but criticizes EC's date announcement and voter list revision.

"Congress party is absolutely ready, and we are prepared. - Pawan Khera"

Guwahati, March 15

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday said the party is fully prepared for the upcoming elections in four states and one Union Territory, while stressing the need for the Election Commission to consult local stakeholders before announcing poll dates.

He highlighted public dissatisfaction with the current government in Assam and urged for fair elections and results.

Speaking to ANI, Khera said, "Congress party is absolutely ready, and we are prepared. Though we have a lot of questions to ask the CEC, the CEC does not respond to our questions. The Congress party knows that people of Assam, in particular, are absolutely fed up with this government, and they are ready for a change. We will ensure that the elections are fair, and the results will also be fair."

"Such decisions should be taken with sensitivity. In Kerala, there is an issue. Easter is coming in just 23 days. So the election commission should do widespread consultations with all the stakeholders before announcing these dates, because the local sensibilities have to be respected," he said.

"No sensible party in Tamil Nadu will join hands with the BJP that we are very confident about," Khera said.

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for Assembly polls for Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. As per the announcement, the assembly elections will commence from April 9.

Polling in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be held on April 9 in a single phase.

While in West Bengal, the first phase of voting is scheduled for April 23, followed by the second phase on April 29. Tamil Nadu will hold its elections on April 23 in a single phase. Counting of votes for all five states and UTs is scheduled for May 4.

Khera also raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, alleging that it is being used to deliberately delete voters' names rather than add them, and stressed that the party has been questioning the process to ensure fair elections.

"We are questioning this exercise (SIR) because in the last six months, our experience has been that this exercise is targeted to delete votes, not to add votes, and the deletion is also very deliberate, very targeted. Therefore, we have been raising questions about this exercise," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The point about consulting stakeholders for dates is valid. Scheduling elections right before major festivals like Easter in Kerala shows a lack of sensitivity. The EC should be more considerate of local customs.
A
Ananya R
The allegation about the SIR exercise deleting voters is very serious. If true, it's a direct attack on democracy. The EC must address these concerns transparently. Every vote matters!
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Vikram M
All parties say they are ready. Let's see what happens on the ground. In Tamil Nadu, the political landscape is complex. Khera's confidence about no alliance with BJP might be tested. DMK+ vs AIADMK+ will be the real fight.
M
Michael C
Respectfully, while the concerns about voter deletion are important, the tone feels like pre-election rhetoric from all sides. The EC has a tough job. Hoping for peaceful and fair elections where the people's voice is truly heard.
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Priya S
As someone from West Bengal, the multi-phase polling here makes sense given the size. The focus should be on preventing violence and ensuring high voter turnout. All parties must cooperate with the EC officials.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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