Congress Destined for Opposition: Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma claims Congress will remain in opposition due to its approach and baseless allegations against EVMs and institutions.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, asserting that the opposition is destined to remain out of power. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, the Chief Minister dismissed the Congress's recurring grievances regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as a convenient excuse for their electoral failures, suggesting that the party's current approach and rhetoric are alienating the electorate.
The 'Convenient' EVM Narrative
Taking a direct swipe at the opposition's stance on voting technology, CM Bhajanlal Sharma questioned the consistency of the Congress party's claims. He pointed out a contradictory pattern where the party accepts the legitimacy of EVMs during its victories but immediately labels them as faulty upon facing defeat.
"Wherever they win elections, the EVM is fine, and wherever they lose elections, the EVM is faulty. How long will this go on?"
The Chief Minister emphasized that the answers the Congress seeks cannot be found through street protests, but rather by engaging directly with the citizens of India. He specifically targeted Rahul Gandhi, urging him and other party leaders to realize that leveling allegations against every national institution would not yield results.
Critique of the Opposition's Approach
Beyond the EVM debate, Sharma expressed confidence that the Congress would continue to stay in the opposition due to its conduct and the language it employs. He stated that the public is closely observing how the party speaks about various institutions and that the voters will provide a definitive response when the time comes.
According to the Rajasthan CM, the current agitation seen within the Congress is merely a reflection of their "restlessness over their chairs" rather than a genuine pursuit of electoral integrity.
The Backdrop: 'Chalo Dilli' March
These remarks come in the wake of a massive mobilization by the INDIA bloc. On Sunday, thousands of supporters gathered at Minto Road for the 'Chalo Dilli' mega march, proceeding toward Ramlila Maidan. This protest was directed against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, following a public "impeachment" program held on October 31.
The rally saw a united front of opposition heavyweights, including:
- Rahul Gandhi (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha)
- Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President)
- Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee (TMC)
- Revanth Reddy (Telangana CM)
- Tejashwi Yadav (RJD)
- Farooq Abdullah (JKNC)
- Mehbooba Mufti (PDP)
- Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party)
- D Raja (CPI)
Allegations Against the Election Commission
The INDIA bloc's protests center on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The coalition alleges that there have been widespread and unverified deletions of legitimate voters, specifically targeting minority communities, backward classes, and marginalized groups.
Accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to uphold electoral integrity, the opposition has formally demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.