The Congress is confident of winning a decisive mandate in the upcoming Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly polls, while remaining alert to possible “last-minute mischief” by the BJP akin to the recent Haryana elections, said senior party figure Jairam Ramesh.
In a recent interview, Ramesh expressed assurance in the strength of the party's alliance strategies in both states but emphasised caution to ensure a fair contest.
Ramesh stated that the Congress is "extra watchful" in light of the Haryana outcome, where he claimed the BJP allegedly used the local administration for “last-minute mischief.”
He further assured that Congress was prepared to prevent any similar disruptions in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where they are contesting as part of broader alliances.
The Congress general secretary noted the importance of a stable leadership in Maharashtra under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP.
He voiced confidence that the MVA would emerge victorious, and that selecting the coalition’s chief ministerial candidate after the results on 23 November would be "a smooth affair."
“We are confident in Maharashtra where we have a very strong alliance, and we are very confident in Jharkhand where also we are fighting in an alliance,” said Ramesh.
“We don’t want a repeat of the Haryana situation...we are more watchful this time.”
Ramesh, a senior Congress strategist, highlighted the coalition’s "positive agenda" in Jharkhand, focused on the achievements of the Congress-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government.
In Maharashtra, he said the MVA coalition seeks to restore stability following the BJP’s manoeuvring, which he described as having "destabilised" the previous government.
Ramesh’s comments referred to political moves by the BJP, including support to rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who unseated former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray last year, and more recently, Ajit Pawar’s defection from the NCP.
“The Mahayuti government of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, BJP, and Ajit Pawar's NCP has betrayed the people of Maharashtra, particularly the farmers and the weaker sections,” Ramesh asserted.
Responding to the coalition’s choice of chief ministerial candidate, Ramesh stressed that the MVA is focused on winning a mandate rather than a personality contest.
“We are fighting for...whose government will be formed—MVA or that of the Mahayuti,” he said, referring to the BJP-led alliance. “It is very premature; we have to get the majority.”
He attributed ongoing seat-sharing discussions within the MVA to natural enthusiasm, dismissing any notion of internal discord.
By contrast, he pointed to evident tensions within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
“You look at the cracks that have appeared in the Mahayuti alliance,” he said, citing rifts among BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP under Ajit Pawar.
A joint MVA rally scheduled in Mumbai on 6 November will see Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi unveil key election promises.
Addressing Congress’s non-participation in recent Uttar Pradesh bypolls, Ramesh emphasised unity within the INDIA bloc, reaffirming Congress’s commitment to "strengthen the hand of our INDIA partners" in the state.
He also responded to the BJP’s campaign approach in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, which he claimed is "polarisation, intimidation, and spreading hatred and bigotry."
“The choice of Himanta Biswa Sarma as chief campaigner was a clear signal as to which way the campaign was headed,” Ramesh stated, describing the Assam chief minister as “the master of communal rhetoric” and highlighting Congress’s complaints lodged with the Election Commission.
Looking beyond rhetoric, Ramesh asserted that Congress’s campaign in Jharkhand and Maharashtra would highlight key concerns, including caste census, reservation caps, and alleged diversion of investments from Maharashtra to Gujarat.
Jharkhand’s elections are set for 13 and 20 November, while Maharashtra will vote on 20 November, with results due on 23 November.
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