Kharge says no more elections in the country if Modi wins 2024 Lok Sabha polls

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge warned that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi retains power in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it could be the last election in India. He called BJP and RSS 'poison' and urged people to save democracy. Kharge also criticized Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and accused him of abiding by the BJP ideology. He said the Congress sides with the poor while Modi and Patnaik are with the rich.

Updated on: Jan 29, 2024, 19:49:11 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar : Calling BJP and RSS ‘poison’, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will turn out to be the last election in India if Prime Minister Narendra Modi retains power.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge. (ANI)

“If some leaders and people become cowards, will our Constitution and democracy survive? If you vote for Modi again, there will be no election in the country. Elections will be held like election of Russian President Vladimir Putin. They will run the government on basis of accumulated authority and keep returning to power. They will get 200 seats, 300 and 400. They will even increase number of seats beyond 600,” said Kharge, addressing the Odisha Bachao Samavesh at Lower PMG area of Bhubaneswar on Monday.

“So, it is the responsibility of the people to save democracy. If you want to save democracy, you can do it. If you want to be slaves, it depends on your wish,” he added.

Kharge said while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wants to unite the country and opened ‘mohabbat ki dukaan’, the BJP and RSS have opened ‘nafrat ki dukaan’. “It is because of this that you need to remain alert. BJP and RSS are poison, they are depriving us of our rights,” Kharge said.

“They are giving (ED) notices to each and every one. They are intimidating people... Because of fear, some are leaving friendships, some are leaving the party, and some are leaving the alliance. The current government’s modus operandi involves serving notices to leaders one after another, instilling terror, and issuing threats. Individuals are abandoning friendships, alliances, and parties out of fear,” he said, warning party workers against the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS.

Also Read: Modi govt mixing religion, politics: Kharge

Kharge remarked: “We administered the government with love, embracing each other. Progress in education, health, industry, and the establishment of various visible institutions today can be credited to the contributions of the Congress. The present government seems to derive pleasure from causing discord and conflict among the people.”

On Bihar chief minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar leaving the INDIA alliance and joining the NDA, he said while some people are saying that the alliance suffered a setback with his departure, it would actually emerge stronger. “Does the country weaken when one person exits? No. Likewise, the alliance would not weaken by the departure of one or two individuals,” he said.

Lashing out at Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, he said Patnaik abides by the BJP ideology. “He keeps changing his colours. Hence, there is a heaven and hell difference between former chief minister late Biju Patnaik and current chief minister Naveen Patnaik. What did Navin Patnaik gain from his friendship with Narendra Modi? The double engine fails at times. And when the double engine doesn’t work properly, the first engine also fails,” he said.

Alleging that Modi and Patnaik are with the rich and the Congress sides with the poor, Kharge criticised Modi and said, “Because of threats, some people are leaving parties and parties are leaving alliance.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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