Amidst the political landscape, the Congress party has sounded the clarion call for the forthcoming democratic fray, following the Election Commission’s unveiling of the timetable for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Enduring a decade-long hiatus from governance since their setbacks in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha contests, the Congress harbors optimism in triumphing over the BJP in 2024, buoyed by the formation of the INDIA coalition last year. “The electorate has issued a summons. The crucible of democracy has ignited, and we stand poised,” declared Pawan Khera, the Congress’s media luminary. “This is no ordinary ballot; it is a defining moment for India, a referendum on whether the nation shall espouse policies of equity or favor the affluent. It is a juncture that shall delineate adherence to BR Ambedkar’s constitutional ethos or extolment of authoritarianism. The electorate shall deal a resounding blow to the hubris of autocracy,” he expounded. AICC secretary Abhishek Dutt emphasized that Rahul Gandhi’s blueprint for social justice would underpin the party’s electoral narrative. “The populace accords credence to Rahul Gandhi’s pledges and seeks to endorse a party attuned to the aspirations of the youth,” articulated Dutt, underscoring, “Rahul Gandhi’s erstwhile nationwide odysseys have brought to the fore the populace’s concerns, with employment for the youth and safeguarding the agrarian populace at the forefront.” In anticipation of the 18 million debutant voters in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Dutt reminisced on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s epochal decision to lower the voting age to 18, facilitating the youthful demographic’s engagement in the democratic process. “Rahul Gandhi’s quintet of assurances stem from his interactions with the masses and shall resonate with the electorate,” remarked erstwhile Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo. Castigating Prime Minister Modi for impugning the governance credentials of the venerable party, Khera retorted, asserting the premier’s lack of prerogative to “interrogate our stewardship, particularly in light of his conspicuous absence in strife-ridden Manipur and his tacit complicity in the malfeasance surrounding electoral bond transactions.” “The malfeasance in the electoral bond imbroglio trails up to the very threshold of the Prime Minister. He ought to be chagrined to scrutinize our governance. I dare the Prime Minister to convene with the academic community; therein lies the revelation of public sentiment towards him,” challenged Khera. Khera averred that public disillusionment with the central government would culminate in its ouster within a span of two months. In extending a cordial reception to the Election Commission’s pronouncement of the electoral calendar, the Congress luminary voiced apprehensions regarding the EC’s admonition against hate-mongering, urging vigilance in curbing such rhetoric. “Recent reports have unveiled a preponderance of hate-mongering incidents in BJP-governed states. BJP stalwarts are notorious for peddling misinformation. The efficacy of the Election Commission’s response to such transgressions remains to be seen. We implore the Election Commission to exercise impartiality, irrespective of the accused, be it the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, and to enforce the model code of conduct with unwavering resolve,” asserted Khera. Regarding the EC’s unqualified endorsement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Congress leaders highlighted the opposition’s apprehensions regarding the reliability of these devices and reiterated their endeavors to foster public awareness on the issue.