Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday, in his opening remarks at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, assured that the Women's Reservation Bill would be implemented and extended to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and a nationwide caste-based Census would be conducted if the party is voted to power in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sharing excerpts from this speech at the meet held in New Delhi, Kharge wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "We resolve to implement women's reservation, including extending reservation to OBC women when we come to power in 2024. We have also demanded a nationwide Caste-based Census, crucial for effective government programs and welfare schemes." Sharing some excerpts from my opening remarks in the Congress Working Committee Meeting, held today in Delhi — • I extend a warm welcome to this Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. In our first meeting in Hyderabad last month, we pledged to rid the country of divisive… pic.twitter.com/6520lExUBa — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 9, 2023 Kharge also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from violence-hit Manipur as the latter continues his visits to various states ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections. The Assembly elections in five states, namely, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, are set to take place in the month of November, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Monday. Urging people to counter fake narratives peddled by the PM, Kharge said, "The Prime Minister's absence in Manipur stands in sharp contrast to his frequent visits to the election going states. His baseless attacks filled with lies and falsehoods on the Congress party will only increase in coming days. It is essential that we counter these falsehoods and create our own counter narrative." He also took a jibe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "divisive tactics and misuse of autonomous bodies" which "pose a threat to democratic stability." Kharge emphasised maintaining coordination, discipline and unity within the party. "We must also expedite efforts to highlight government failures and raise concerns affecting the common people," he wrote. Concluding his speech, the Congress chief said, "In 2024, we must strive to establish a government that addresses these grave challenges and cater to the marginalized, youth, women, farmers, and laborers. Simultaneously, we must address pressing issues like inflation and unemployment while remaining attuned to the people's voices. We must propagate the exemplary work of Congress-led state governments and past Congress Governments. By highlighting these accomplishments, we can instil faith among the public and inspire a brighter future." At the two-day meeting held in Hyderabad last month, the CWC had passed a resolution expressing confidence that the party would receive a "decisive mandate from the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana in the Assembly elections that will be held shortly". In his speech, the Congress chief had then asked the party leaders to set aside their personal differences to ensure the party’s success.
