Lok Sabha polls: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held 100 public meetings, 20 press conferences as campaigning concludes

New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a total of 100 public meetings, 20 press conferences and gave over 50 interviews as the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections concluded on Thursday.
The general elections are being held across seven phases. While the first six phases are over, the seventh and the last phase will be held on June 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.
Congress which registered victory on 52 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is confident that INDIA bloc will form government at the Centre this time.
Earlier today, Kharge said the election for the 18th Lok Sabha will be remembered for a long time because, in this election, every citizen of the country has come together to save democracy and the Constitution, forgetting caste, creed, religion, region, gender, and language.
"The PM and leaders of the BJP made countless efforts to mislead the people on religious and divisive issues. Despite this, the people chose issues and we asked for votes on issues," he said."We are confident that on June 4, 2024, the people of this country will give a mandate to a new alternative government. INDIA alliance will form a government with full majority and all of us together will give this country an inclusive nationalistic developmental government and we will move forward taking everyone along," he added.
He accused the Election Commission of not acting on "divisive" speeches by PM Modi.
"In his election speeches, PM Modi spoke Mandir-Masjid 421 times and spoke divisive words. He spoke words like Muslim, minority 224 times but the Election Commission did act against him" Kharge said.
The Congress chief accused PM Modi of misusing probe agencies against his opponents and not paying attention to issues such as unemployment, price rise and economic inequality.
Kharge also cited Dr BR Ambedkar as saying that 'bhakti' can be a path to salvation in religion "but 'bhakti' or hero-worship in politics is a definite road to disaster which ends in dictatorship."
A total of 57 seats will go to the polls in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. Votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)