Congress Optimistic Ahead of Key Assembly Results The counting of votes for the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, and Assam is set to begin on May 4, with the Congress party expressing confidence in its prospects. The party is hopeful of regaining power in Kerala through an alliance led by the DMK, while also aiming to strengthen its position in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In West Bengal, where the Congress contested all 294 seats for the first time, the party anticipates an increase in its vote share. In Assam, the Congress is preparing to challenge the BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, with Gaurav Gogoi as its primary contender. In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is expected to secure a majority despite a narrow vote share difference. Party insiders noted that the UDF’s coordinated campaign, which avoided internal rifts, played a crucial role in its performance. Key leaders such as K.C. Venugopal, V.D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, Sunil Joseph, and Shashi Tharoor were instrumental in mobilizing support. Venugopal, a Lok Sabha MP from Alappuzha, was particularly pivotal in uniting dissenting leaders within the party. He addressed concerns of leaders like Saji Joseph, Sanjay Khan, Vijay Induchudan, A. Shukur, and Balakrishnan, who had been upset over their exclusion from ticket allocations. Venugopal’s efforts ensured party unity, preventing votes from being split by independent candidates. The Congress’s alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has faced some challenges. While joint campaigns were planned, parliamentary sessions on the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill delayed coordination. Rahul Gandhi did not campaign alongside DMK chief M.K. Stalin, sparking speculation about differences between the parties.#congress #dmk #udf #tmc #tarun_gogoi
