India: Will implement all five promises, says Kharge after party's victory in Karnataka

After Congress registered a thumping victory in the Karnataka assembly election, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday assured the people that the grand old party will fulfil all the five promises made to the public in the party's manifesto after the formation of the cabinet.

During campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly elections, Congress sought to keep the narrative to local issues.

The Congress heavily banked on its five guarantees — Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya, Yuva Nidhi and Shakti — with the party leaders promising their immediate implementation if the party comes to power.

While talking to the media, Kharge said: "People of Karnataka have rejected BJP and brought the Congress party back to power. People have given us a record number of votes. We will implement all five promises that we made to the public in our manifesto after we form our cabinet."

"The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting will be held today and will hand over the report to the high command after which the high command will take its time to declare the name of the chief minister of Karnataka," Kharge added.

Kharge on Sunday appointed three observers in Karnataka for the election of the CLP leader in the state.

Taking to his social media handle, KC Venugopal, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, said: "Congress president has deputed Sushil Kumar Shinde (former chief minister, Maharashtra), Jitendra Singh (AICC GS) and Deepak Babaria (former AICC GS) as observers for the election of the Congress Legislative party (CLP) leader of Karnataka."

The observers will be present in the CLP meeting and will submit the report to the party's high command.

Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.