Kharge Optimistic On Five-state Poll Prospects

Kalaburagi: All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday expressed optimism about the party’s prospects in the Assembly elections across five states.

Addressing reporters here, Kharge said early indications suggest a comfortable majority for the DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu. “From my interactions and feedback, it appears that the DMK will return to power with a clear mandate,” he said.

In Kerala, Kharge noted that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is expected to secure a majority. “Our workers and leaders on the ground are confident about a favourable outcome,” he added.

However, he admitted that the situation in Assam appears less certain based on exit poll projections. “Some of the seats we expected are not reflected in the exit polls, but we remain hopeful of winning more seats than predicted,” Kharge said.

In Puducherry, he described the contest as tight, with the Congress and its allies locked in a direct fight against the BJP and the NR Congress. “It is a tough battle, and we will have to wait for the final results,” he said.

Commenting on West Bengal, Kharge said the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, appears to have an edge based on available inputs, though the BJP and its NDA partners have mounted a strong challenge. “There are reports of intense competition. Our party is contesting with a focus on strengthening its base in the state, and we hope to see some improvement,” he said.

Kharge emphasized that feedback from various states broadly aligns with the party’s expectations, but refrained from making definitive claims. On the possibility of post-poll alliances in West Bengal, he said it would be premature to comment.

“Let us wait for a few more days. We will get a clearer picture after the results, and then we can discuss the next steps,” he added.