Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party for their complaints about the Election Commission following electoral defeats.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his allegations against the Election Commission, urging the opposition party to introspect instead of questioning electoral institutions following its defeats.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma questioned why Congress raises concerns over elections primarily in states where it loses. He said electoral disputes should be resolved through constitutional and legal means and asked whether Rahul Gandhi would continue to contest elections as long as Gyanesh Kumar remains the Chief Election Commissioner.
On the recent Nagaon bypoll, Sarma claimed that Congress did not have polling agents at nearly 70 per cent of polling stations, alleging that the party was struggling to find people willing to take up the responsibility.
The Chief Minister also expressed his willingness to contest elections in Assam using ballot papers, challenging the opposition to test its allegations against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) through a ballot-paper election.
Sarma further criticised Congress’s protests in Delhi, alleging that people were being brought from Assam to participate in demonstrations. He said constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission and the Supreme Court, should not be subjected to political pressure or intimidation.
Reacting to reports of around 200 government officials meeting Rahul Gandhi, Sarma said such a meeting did not indicate that the entire bureaucracy supported Congress, pointing out that the Indian bureaucracy was much larger than the number of officials involved.
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Sarma emphasised the need for regular voter-list verification to protect the integrity of elections. He said electoral rolls should be thoroughly reviewed and ineligible names identified through lawful procedures.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns over alleged foreign interference in India’s internal affairs, stressing that the country’s democratic institutions and national interests must be protected. He called on Rahul Gandhi to clarify his position on Sanatan Dharma and the Ram Temple, alleging that religious symbolism should not be used merely for political purposes.
Sarma also maintained that legal procedures must be followed in cases involving approvers and that no political leader could override established judicial processes.
