’Mahaul does favour us, but…’: Sonia Gandhi to Congress on upcoming polls in Maharashtra and other states

With assembly polls in key states coming up, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on July 31 told the party that the "mahaul (public mood)" is in the party's favour. However, she also warned against becoming complacent or overly confident following the positive response they received during the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Her remarks came ahead of assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand which are scheduled this year as also the possibility of elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The party chairperson also asserted that the Modi government had failed to learn from its notable decline in the Lok Sabha elections. She accused it of continuing with policies that divide communities and foster an atmosphere of fear and hostility.

"Fortunately, the Supreme Court intervened at the right time," she said in an apparent reference to the stay on the orders passed by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand government asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the name of owners.

In her speech at the CPP meeting, Gandhi added, “But this can only be a temporary respite. Look at how the rules have been suddenly changed to permit the bureaucracy to participate in the activities of the RSS. It calls itself a cultural organisation but the whole world knows that it is the BJP’s political and ideological base.”

Noting that elections will be held in four states, she urged party leaders to sustain the momentum and goodwill that had been generated for the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

"We must not become complacent and over confident. The 'mahaul' does favour us, but we have to work unitedly with a sense of purpose. I dare say that if we perform well, reflecting the trend that we witnessed in the Lok Sabha elections, national politics will undergo a transformation," Gandhi said.

Sonia Gandhi on Census

Gandhi also claimed that it is clear that the Government has no intention whatsoever to conduct the Census that was last due in 2021.

"This will prevent us from having an up-to-date estimate of the population of the country, especially of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. It also means that at least 12 crore of our citizens are denied the benefit of the National Food Security Act of 2013 – now repackaged as PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana," she said.

Condolences over Wayanad landslides

Sonia Gandhi in her speech at the CPP meeting expressed Condolences to the families affected by the Wayanad landslide and other natural disasters.

"Let me extend our deepest condolences to the families bereaved by the horrendous calamity that has overtaken Wayanad. The scale of devastation has been staggering. Our colleagues in the state have mobilised themselves to provide all assistance. There have been huge floods in other parts of the country as well and we extend our sympathies to the affected families. Apart from natural disasters, our people continue to lose their lives in railway accidents that are caused by mismanagement. Our thoughts are with these victims as well."

(With inputs from agencies)