News Mania / Piyal Chatterjee / 7th October 2024
Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the All India Congress, expressed confidence on Monday that his party will win the election in Haryana and form the government in Jammu and Kashmir with the National Conference, an alliance partner. On October 8, the outcomes of both Assembly elections will be declared.
“Earlier too we had said that in Haryana and Jammu Kashmir, the Congress government will be formed. In Jammu and Kashmir, Congress and NC (National Conference) alliance will form the government, and in Haryana Congress government will be formed,” Kharge told reporters here.
Numerous exit polls indicated that the Congress would easily win a majority in Haryana and that its alliance with the National Conference would win in Jammu and Kashmir, where the regional partner would emerge as the single largest party.On October 5, Haryana had a single phase of elections, whereas Jammu & Kashmir held three phases of voting on September 18, 25, and October 1. Following the division of the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in 2019, elections were held in the former.
Responding to a question on the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi demanding caste census at the national level, Kharge said, “We had said it during Parliament election too, after taking views from all states, further action has to be taken.” Asked whether the much-awaited Socio Economic and Education Survey report, also known as the “caste census” will be implemented in Karnataka, he replied, “Ask the state leaders about it.” Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had on Sunday said the government has decided to place the caste census report before the Cabinet, where it will be discussed, and further action will be decided.
On February 29, Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, then led by K Jayaprakash Hegde, delivered the report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The report was presented in the face of opposition from several societal groups as well as the ruling Congress. The two main communities in Karnataka, the Vokkaliags and the Lingayats, have shown skepticism about the poll, labelling it as “unscientific” and demanding that it be rejected and a new one be carried out.
