The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): After the fifth round of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, Congress asserted on Monday that only 15 days remain until Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s departure, claiming that winds of change are blowing across the country and the INDIA opposition bloc is set to sweep the ruling NDA away.
In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that with five phases of polling concluded, voting for 428 seats is over, and only 15 days remain for Modi’s departure. “The trends that have been emerging since Phase 1 have only gained strength: it is clear that for the BJP, it is ‘South mein Saaf, North, West and East mein Half.’ It appears that the INDIA alliance has already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on course for a tally of over 350 seats in total. The departure of Mr. Modi is now all but sealed,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
Ramesh attributed this trend to backbreaking price rises, record-high unemployment, and the BJP’s threats to change the Constitution and end reservations. He added that these issues have made it clear to Indian voters that “Modi must go.”
He highlighted that the election campaign has centered around the Congress’s positive messaging, focusing on the party’s “Nyay Patra” (manifesto) and guarantees. “The slogan of ‘Khata-Khat’ has captured the imagination of the people, to the extent that even the outgoing PM has been forced to respond to it. The announcement of our final Guarantee — doubling the allotment of free foodgrain for each individual under the National Food Security Act — has caught fire in North and East India,” noted the former Union minister.
Ramesh stated that every ground report indicates that the “hawa badal rahi hai” (winds of change) is turning into a “aandhi” (storm), and the INDIA Janbandhan is set to sweep the NDA away. He reiterated the opposition bloc’s tagline — “Badlega Bharat, Jeetega INDIA!” and emphasized that June 4th, the day election results will be announced, is approaching.
Ramesh criticized Modi’s election campaign, describing it as “3D” — to “Distort, Divert, and Defame.” He alleged that after failing to present a positive agenda and abandoning slogans like ‘400 paar’ and ‘Modi ki Guarantee,’ Modi resorted to communal rhetoric. Ramesh claimed this strategy backfired, and the Prime Minister’s recent claim that he would be “ineligible for public life” if he resorted to Hindu-Muslim politics reflected this failure.
Ramesh also took aim at the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of being in a “deep slumber” and failing to address daily violations of the Model Code of Conduct by the BJP. He alleged that the BJP, led by Modi, has used religious symbols in polling, advertisements on polling day, and videos showing repeat-voting by BJP workers. These actions, he said, have raised questions about the EC’s ability to hold the Prime Minister accountable. He called for the immediate publication of turnout figures as soon as possible after the conclusion of voting.