Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a sharp political offensive against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and the opposition party, asserting that disrespecting the popular mandate following electoral defeats has become an old routine for them. Responding to the recurring questions raised by the opposition regarding the credibility of the Election Commission and voting procedures, the Union Minister stated that blaming constitutional bodies whenever results turn unfavorable exposes the opposition's intolerance toward democratic verdicts.
Congress Wins in Three States Highlight Contradiction
Questioning what he termed a glaring double standard, Shivraj Singh Chouhan pointed out that Congress finds the Election Commission fair and impartial only during moments of victory. He asked how the party managed to secure clear wins in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh if the existing electoral machinery was flawed. According to him, celebrating victories under the very same administration while labeling the system compromised after losses demonstrates political opportunism.
Push for Paper Ballots Termed Backward-Looking
Addressing the opposition's push to discard electronic voting in favor of paper ballots, the Union Minister argued that Congress intends to drag the country's electoral systems backward into the 1980s and 1990s. He emphasized that the introduction of modern voting technology has established unprecedented transparency in democratic exercises. Resisting modern technical safeguards and demanding a return to older methods, he remarked, raises serious doubts about the motivations behind opposing proven transparency.
Emergency Evoked Over Attacks on Constitutional Bodies
Highlighting democratic conventions, Shivraj Singh Chouhan alleged that attempting to delegitimize the Election Commission and weaken independent institutions upon facing defeat is ingrained in the Congress party's political DNA. Evoking the Emergency era, he recalled how democratic pillars were previously dismantled under Congress rule. He warned that targeting vital constitutional watchdogs today represents a continuation of that harmful approach.
Warning Against Moves Toward Institutional Chaos
The Union Minister stressed that continuously disparaging and seeking to dismantle national institutions poses severe risks to the country's fabric, warning that such narratives steer governance toward anarchy. He stated that efforts aimed at discrediting constitutional structures would fail to succeed among the public. Chouhan concluded by urging all political outfits to demonstrate institutional responsibility and contribute positively toward strengthening India's democratic framework.
