Guwahati, 11th April: In a recent press conference held in Guwahati, Assam, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh voiced his concerns regarding the duration of elections in India, emphasizing the necessity for shorter election periods to align with Digital India initiatives.
Ramesh highlighted the stark contrast between the 20-day duration of the 2004 elections and the current 42-day period, raising questions about the Election Commission’s decision-making process and the government’s vision for efficient electoral processes.
“Digital India advocates for shorter election durations. In 2004, elections were concluded in 20 days, but today, they extend to approximately 42 days. It’s unclear what prompted the Election Commission and the PM to extend the duration,” Ramesh remarked, underlining the significance of leveraging digital technologies for streamlined governance.
Shifting focus to alliance politics in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Ramesh shed light on Congress’s collaboration with 28 other parties under the INDIA alliance banner. While successful seat-sharing arrangements were reached with some parties, disagreements persisted with others, resulting in contesting against alliance members in certain states.
“In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress is aligned with 28 other parties under the INDIA alliance. While seat-sharing agreements have been reached with some, disagreements remain with others,” Ramesh explained.
He specifically addressed the inclusion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the INDIA alliance, clarifying that Congress is contesting against TMC in states like West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya. Despite this, Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed TMC’s integral role within the INDIA alliance.
Read More: Manipur: Commemoration of Maharaj Narasingh’s 174th Death Anniversary Held at Kangla Fort