A day after the election timetable for the upcoming Assembly polls was announced, senior leaders of the Indian National Congress on March 16 questioned the timing and structure of the polling phases, alleging that the schedule appears to favour the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the way the election dates and phases have been arranged suggests that the decision may have been taken with the convenience of the BJP in mind. Reacting to the announcement, she remarked that the schedule seems to have been designed to suit the ruling party.
Expressing similar concerns, Shashi Tharoor, a Member of Parliament from the Congress, said the early polling date in Kerala came as a surprise. Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex, Tharoor said the April 9 polling date had “taken everyone aback,” as many had anticipated voting to take place during the final ten days of April. He noted that the party now has barely three weeks to prepare for the elections.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced that Assembly elections will be held in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on April 9, while polling in Tamil Nadu will take place on April 23. In West Bengal, the elections will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes for all the regions has been scheduled for May 4.
Tharoor pointed out that the Congress faces a significant challenge in Kerala, as the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front returned to power in the previous election, breaking the state’s long-standing pattern of alternating governments between the two political fronts. He added that while the CPI(M) has fielded several sitting MLAs, the Congress has introduced many new candidates who need time to connect with their constituencies.
Despite the limited campaign period, Tharoor said the party is ready to take on the challenge and is working intensively on its election strategy. He also indicated that he might have to skip the final two weeks of the ongoing Parliament session due to campaign responsibilities in Kerala.
Meanwhile, K. C. Venugopal, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee, also noted that the effective campaign time is relatively short. He pointed out that the schedule coincides with Holy Week and falls just days before the Vishu festival, further reducing the number of campaign days available.
Venugopal, however, maintained that the Congress is fully prepared for the electoral contest and will fight the polls with full strength despite the limitations posed by the schedule.
