Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge Urge Jharkhand Voters to Strengthen Democracy and Support INDIA Bloc
New Delhi: As polling began in Jharkhand for the first phase of Assembly elections, key leaders from the INDIA alliance, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, called on voters to exercise their democratic rights to strengthen the Constitution and ensure prosperity for the state’s citizens.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, urged voters in Jharkhand to cast their ballots in favor of the INDIA bloc, emphasizing that every vote for the alliance would bring prosperity and safeguard key issues such as water, land, and forest (jal-jungle-zameen). “Your every vote for INDIA will bring prosperity in your life through seven guarantees, will protect your rights, and will strengthen social justice,” Gandhi said in a message shared on social media.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also made an appeal to the electorate, urging them to think carefully before casting their vote. “We must form a government that promotes inclusive development, social justice, and good governance, one that unites and participates in the democratic process, not one that divides and polarizes,” Kharge said. He further highlighted the importance of voting to protect Jharkhand’s unique tribal culture and its natural resources.
Kharge’s message focused on the need to ensure that Jharkhand’s development was inclusive and based on values of unity, with special emphasis on protecting the rights of the tribals and ensuring a future that fosters social justice.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary, also expressed her support for the voters, particularly first-time voters, encouraging them to participate in the democratic process. “Participate enthusiastically in this great festival of democracy, vote in large numbers, and make INDIA victorious,” she said, adding that the welfare of the tribals and the protection of Jharkhand’s resources were crucial for the state’s future.
The remarks come ahead of the first phase of voting in 43 Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand, which is part of a broader electoral process that includes bypolls in several other states. The polling began at 7 AM and will continue until 5 PM, with a total of 683 candidates contesting for the 43 seats. The stakes are high for both the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance and the BJP, which is campaigning vigorously in a bid to reclaim power.
The outcome of these elections will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of Jharkhand and could have significant implications for the broader national political scene, especially as the INDIA bloc aims to challenge the BJP’s dominance in various states.
