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Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (VP)

Mangaluru, Apr 27: The Congress MP candidate, Padmaraj R Poojary, said that the Congress party is poised to secure victory with a majority of 120,000 votes. He also asserted that while Modi's assurances remain mere words, the guarantee from the Congress lies firmly in the hands of the people.

Addressing the media on Saturday, April 27, at the Congress office in Mallikatte, Padmaraj stated, "The elections have concluded successfully, and the electoral process proceeded smoothly, thanks to the tremendous support from our party members and the voters. I express my gratitude to people from all communities. I also extend my thanks to senior Congress leaders who stood by me like family, including Ramanath Rai, Abhayachandra Jain, Manjunath Bhandary, Harish Kumar, Shashidhar Hegde, Bhaskar Hegde, and many other Congress leaders who have supported us wholeheartedly.

"The party members, during the campaign, highlighted the party's history, guarantee schemes, and future aspirations, while consciously avoiding engaging in hate politics. I have personally visited 8 constituencies, and the prevailing atmosphere indicates that the Congress party is poised for victory by a significant margin. It's imperative that parties refrain from spreading misinformation for personal gain. In some instances, BJP party members attempted to incite conflict, and at that juncture, I emphasized to the press that there's no need for confrontation during elections. Winning and losing are common occurrences, but the BJP party's tactics of provoking disadvantaged youths will inevitably lead to hardships for their families in the future,” he said.

When asked about the consistent voting percentage and their confidence in winning the elections, Padmaraj responded, "Our confidence level is currently at an all-time high. While as responsible citizens, we ideally wish for a 100% voter turnout, we are content with the substantial numbers that have turned out, and we are pleased with the results thus far. As for expectations, I have none, and clarity will emerge on the day of the results. My confidence stems from the people themselves. Congress leaders have been promoting guarantee schemes, and we have only informed them about our past achievements and future aspirations if we win. The Congress party is projected to secure victory with a majority of 120,000 votes. Unlike the BJP party, which makes baseless claims of winning by 4-7 lac votes, our figure of 120,000 is derived from a careful assessment of the situation before and after the polls."

When questioned about what has contributed to the success of the Congress party this time, considering that similar programs were implemented during the last Lok Sabha elections where the Congress party could not secure its seat, Padmaraj responded, "The guarantee schemes introduced by the Congress have benefited everyone, particularly those affected by high inflation. These schemes have provided relief to many families. This time, voters had the opportunity to evaluate which party has made a greater contribution to the region. Regarding Anna Bhagya, emotions run deep in Dakshina Kannada, and we had to educate people about the dangers of hate politics, which could impact our future generations. The guarantee schemes are genuinely helping people. While the BJP party made numerous promises, voters are now aware of the extent to which they have benefited from both the BJP and Congress."

When asked about the Congress party's confidence in the elections despite continuously losing for 33 years, Padmaraj responded, "We do not engage in caste politics; the Congress party focuses solely on reality. On the other hand, the BJP party's campaign rhetoric has largely revolved around caste and Modi. Personally, I have never campaigned on the basis of caste. The BJP's campaign primarily centred around Hindutva, Modi, nationalism, and anti-nationalism. Today, we have shown the public the true nature of each party. I am proud to be Hindu, and having visited all the booths, I can confidently say that the excitement among the public indicates that this is not the end, but rather the beginning of a long journey for the Congress party."

When questioned about his use of Janardhan Poojary's name, Padmaraj clarified, "I have never exploited the name of Janardhan Poojary for personal gain. He is elderly, and I believe that using his name for my benefit would not be blessed by the divine. I strongly believe that those who commit mistakes should be held accountable, and justice should not be dispensed based on caste."

Regarding a viral photo showing him alongside Nalin Kumar Kateel, Padmaraj responded, "This reflects our cultural values, and I hold Nalin Kumar Kateel in high regard as a senior leader. It is important to uphold such traditions."

When questioned about his opinion on Modi's guarantee schemes, Padmaraj replied, "There is no Modi's guarantee; guarantees were introduced by the Congress party. Our guarantee has reached the people, whereas Modi's guarantee is merely rhetoric. Many women voters have turned out in large numbers to cast their votes, recognizing that the Congress party has made significant contributions to empowering women."

Ramanath Rai, Abhayachandra Jain, Shubodaya Alva and others were present.