“Demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation is illogical, baseless”: Tripura minister Sudhanshu Das hits out at opposition
Tripura Minister Sudhanshu Das calls the demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation illogical and accuses Congress of undermining Indian democracy.
Tripura Minister Sudhanshu Das has launched a scathing attack on the Congress and other opposition parties following their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Labeling the demand as "illogical and baseless," the minister accused the opposition of attempting to damage the reputation of India's democratic institutions.
Attacking Rahul Gandhi’s Leadership
Speaking to the media, Das expressed strong condemnation for the protests led by Rahul Gandhi. He suggested that the Congress leadership is working to weaken the country's democratic fabric.
"I would say that people should not pay so much attention to what Nakli Gandhi, particularly, says. It is also a fact that India is known as the mother of democracy in the world. However, the manner in which Rahul Gandhi and his group are bringing disrepute to and undermining this democracy is certainly a matter of concern," Das stated.
The minister further alleged that the Congress party is attempting to deflect blame for its repeated electoral failures onto others. He claimed that under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, the party has lost more than 96 elections, leading to internal frustration among workers.
Questioning 'Vote Chori' Allegations
Das challenged the Congress party's claims of 'vote chori' (vote theft) by highlighting their poor performance and lack of presence in local elections within Tripura. He pointed to two specific instances to question their credibility:
- Panchayat Elections: Two years ago, out of approximately 6,500 seats, the Congress contested only 731. Das questioned why the party failed to field candidates in the remaining seats if they possessed sufficient workers.
- TTAADC Village Committee Elections: In the recent elections held on September 27 in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area, the Congress contested fewer than 400 out of the 4,597 available seats.
"If they were unable to field candidates in these places, then naturally they would lose in those places," the minister remarked, suggesting that losses are a natural consequence of their inability to compete effectively.
Declining Influence of Congress
The minister also touched upon the shifting political landscape and the declining influence of the Congress in various states. He questioned why major opposition allies, such as the TMC in West Bengal or parties in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, are not offering seat-sharing arrangements to the Congress.
According to Das, the lack of support from allies is a clear sign that the public has lost faith in Rahul Gandhi's leadership. He concluded by noting that even within their own alliances, such as in the Dharmanagar elections, there were instances where CPI(M) leaders expressed doubt regarding the Congress's ability to even appoint counting agents.