New Delhi: The Congress Party on October 8, 2024, congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir for an emphatic and categorical mandate to the National Conference and Indian National Congress alliance there.

The Party hailed the victory, saying the top most priority of the alliance government would be the restoration of statehood. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, AICC General Secretary-in-charge of communications Shri Jairam Ramesh and Chairman of the media and publicity department Shri Pawan Khera maintained that the election results in Haryana were totally in contravention of the ground realities and public sentiment that was for change and transformation. Thanking the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their decisive mandate to the NC-INC alliance, the Party leaders said that the coalition government of the National Conference and Congress will be transparent and answerable. They said, the top most priority of the government will be restoration of the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. They added, there will be a common programme, apart from the respective manifestoes of the two parties. They said that the alliance will provide a “responsible, responsive, accountable and transparent government”.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a clear and categorical verdict in favour of the NC-INC alliance”, they said, while pointing out how the BJP tried till last minute to manipulate and cobble up a majority by various means.

“People of JK have defeated the mischievous designs of the BJP to engineer a majority of their own”, Shri Jairam Ramesh remarked. Rejecting the Haryana results, Shri Khera disclosed that there were specific complaints about the possible manipulations of the EVMs. He said, some of the candidates referred to some EVMs having 99 percent battery strength even after many rounds of the counting and the results from all such machines went against the Congress. Whereas, he added, those machines, whose battery strength was normal, between 60 to 70 percent, showed Congress candidates to be winning*.

Shri Pawan Khera said, there were several other serious complaints which were being collected and in the coming days the Party will approach the Election Commission of India. “Yeh tantra ki jeet aur loktantra ki haar hai (this is the defeat of democracy by manipulating the system)”, he remarked.

Asserting that the results were questionable, Shri Jairam Ramesh said that the Congress had been shown losing even in those seats, where there was no scope of its candidates losing. “Results in Haryana are totally unexpected, completely surprising and counter intuitive going against ground reality and what the people of Haryana had made their mind for which was for change and transformation”, he said, while adding, “it is not possible for us to accept the results that have been announced today”.

Asserting that serious questions have been raised by the Party candidates, he said, “What we have seen in Haryana today, is a victory of manipulation, a victory of subverting the will of the people and a defeat for the transparent democratic processes”.

“Chapter on Haryana is not complete, it will continue”, Shri Jairam Ramesh remarked, adding, “Congress has been made to lose by misuse of means and people’s sentiments were different as the ground reality was in favour of change and transformation.”

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Tweeted on assembly elections results and said - Heartfelt thanks to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for giving the Congress Party and National Conference alliance the opportunity to serve.

Congratulations to National Conference President Farooq Abdullah ji and Vice President and head of the coalition government Shri Omar Abdhullahji for the magnificent victory. This mandate has been given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir against the anti-people policies of the BJP, violation and oppression of the rights of the people and misuse of constitutional institutions.

Our coalition government will make every possible effort to fulfil your aspirations. The J&K coalition is fully committed to protect your well-being and constitutional rights. The results of Haryana are unexpected. The Party is assessing the public opinion. After talking to our ground workers, getting complete information and verifying the facts, a detailed response will come from the Party.

We thank the people of Haryana for voting for the Congress Party. Our hardworking workers need not feel disappointed. Our fight against dictatorship is a long one. Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi also tweeted and said - Heartfelt thanks to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The victory of the INDIA in the state is a victory of the Constitution, a victory of democratic pride.

We are analysing the unexpected result of Haryana. We will inform the Election Commission about the complaints coming from many assembly constituencies. Heartfelt thanks to all the people of Haryana for their support and to our Babbar Sher workers for their tireless hard work. We will continue this struggle for rights, social and economic justice, truth and will keep raising your voice.