‘Helping deep-pocketed parties’: Opposition questions seven-stage election

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the 2024 elections will open the door to justice in India.

New Delhi:

Opposition parties welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement that the Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1, but some pointed out that decentralizing the voting process could work in the BJP’s favour. The Congress has also asserted that the upcoming polls will be the last chance to save democracy.

The Trinamool Congress also said the poll body did not consider the West Bengal government’s suggestion to hold the elections in one or two phases. The report said the seven-phase voting in the state would once again help “political parties with deep pockets”.

The 44-day voting period will be the second longest after the first Lok Sabha elections in 1951-52, which lasted four months.

Posting on X on Saturday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the 2024 elections will open the door of Nyay (justice) in India, referring to the party’s plans for all sections of society.

“The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the ‘New Year’s Door’ for India. This is perhaps the last chance to save democracy and our Constitution from dictatorship. Together ‘We the People of India’ will fight against hatred, looting, unemployment, rising prices and Atrocity,” he posted.

Haq later told reporters that the seven-phase election meant “Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to tour everywhere” and that the election could have been completed in three or four phases.

“We are not worried about what will happen, but Modi is taking seven phases, which means he has to tour everywhere. In this country, I have also participated in nearly 12 elections, and there were hardly four phases before. Sometimes it used even just one stage,” he was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.

Pointing out that almost all development work will be halted from Saturday as the model code of conduct will be put in place, the Congress chief said, “…stop for almost 70-80 days, imagine how the country will progress? Because of the election code of conduct… Materials would not be provided. Budget would not be spent. So, from what I understand, it’s not good. He could have done it in three or four phases.”

Congress spokesperson Pawan Hera told a press conference that these “landmark” elections were held against the backdrop of “scams” such as electoral bonds, imprisonment, suspension and attacks on opposition parties and politicians, and freezing of funds of major national opposition parties. ongoing. .

“long wait”

TKS Elangovan, spokesman for the opposition DMK, which has the second-largest number of Lok Sabha members, said the party needs to be “prepared” to see results until June 4.

“We expected Tamil Nadu to move to the first phase (April 19), however, waiting until June 4 is an issue the party must be prepared for,” he said.

The Trinamool Congress had said before the date was announced that elections should be held in one or two phases in West Bengal, adding that seven rounds of voting would help parties with deep pockets.

Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said: “We want single-phase or two-phase Lok Sabha elections in the state. Our view is that multi-phase elections will help parties with strong financial resources, and give them an advantage over other political parties.” PTI.

She said: “The 2021 Assembly elections will be held in eight phases. It is said that this was done because of the epidemic. So what is the reason for holding the elections in seven phases now? There is no valid reason.” The Trinamool Congress hopes that the Election Commission will conduct a “fair” manner commence to work.

Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said: “The views of the state government were not taken into account. This is a disregard for the federal structure. We cannot understand the reason for holding elections for such a long time. It is quite surprising.”

“Strengthening our hands”

AAP president Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people to vote for his party.

“The date for the Lok Sabha polls in the country has been announced. This is the great festival of democracy. I appeal to all my compatriots to vote against dictatorship and hooliganism this time,” he said.

“AAP is committed to solving the real problems of the people and facilitating them. Wherever our candidates contest the polls, strengthen us by voting with ‘jhaadu (broom, the election symbol of AAP)’ so that we can vote with greater More energy to work for you,” he added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the alliance of Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and his party Maha Vikas Aghadi is ready for the elections. “We only want the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls… MVA will announce its candidate after the rally in Mumbai tomorrow,” Mr Raut told PTI.

The NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction, however, questioned why Maharashtra, which has the second highest number of Lok Sabha MPs with 48 members, is holding elections in five phases.

“Five phases in Maharashtra. What does the BJP want? Is it fear or EVM?” Clyde Crasto, the party’s national spokesperson, posted on X.