Confident of Victory in Jharkhand, Maharashtra but Wary of BJP ‘Tactics’ in Haryana: Ramesh

New Delhi, Nov 4: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed confidence on Monday that the party is set to secure decisive wins in the upcoming Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly elections. However, he noted the Congress is taking extra precautions to avoid any “last-minute mischief” by the BJP, similar to recent developments in Haryana. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh stated that the decision on who will serve as the Chief Minister for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra would be made post-results on November 23. He anticipated a smooth selection process for the alliance’s leadership. As election campaigns intensify, Ramesh brushed off speculation that the momentum was shifting away from the INDIA bloc after the Congress’s unexpected setback in Haryana. He stated that the party remains confident in its alliances, both in Jharkhand, where it is aligned with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and in Maharashtra, where the Congress is part of the MVA coalition. Ramesh highlighted that the Congress and its allies are running a campaign based on a positive agenda in Jharkhand, celebrating achievements from the last five years. In Maharashtra, he criticized the ruling Mahayuti coalition of the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, alleging that their policies have failed the people, especially farmers and vulnerable communities. On the question of chief ministerial candidates, Ramesh clarified, “Our focus is not on individual leadership but on securing a majority for the MVA. We are confident the process of selecting a CM will be smooth once we have a decisive mandate.” Addressing recent seat-sharing challenges within the INDIA bloc, Ramesh attributed it to natural enthusiasm and demand for Congress tickets in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. He also pointed out tensions within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, suggesting cracks between the BJP and its partners Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Ramesh noted that the MVA plans to hold a large rally on November 6 in Mumbai, where senior leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, will unveil the alliance’s key promises for the elections. Responding to criticism over the Congress’s decision not to contest recent bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, Ramesh asserted the party’s commitment to strengthening alliances within the INDIA bloc. He also condemned the BJP’s polarizing campaign strategies in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, especially noting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s controversial rhetoric. In Jharkhand and Maharashtra, Ramesh said, the Congress’s campaign emphasizes issues like farmer welfare, caste-based census, and raising reservation caps for marginalized communities. He further accused the BJP of diverting promised investments from Maharashtra to Gujarat, a move he attributed to Prime Minister Modi. Jharkhand’s assembly elections are scheduled in two phases on November 13 and 20, while Maharashtra will hold a single-phase poll on November 20. The results will be announced on November 23.