BJP hits back at Congress over Election Commission criticism
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of insulting constitutional institutions and the people's mandate by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah "illegal." Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said such remarks amounted to an attack on democracy itself, stating that India's democratic foundation rests on the Constitution given by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
Chouhan alleged that Kharge's statement, made at the direction of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, reflected the Congress' frustration following electoral defeats. He characterized the Congress chief's remarks as yet another example of the party's "longstanding practice of attacking constitutional institutions," noting that the party attacks the Election Commission, EVMs, and the people's mandate whenever it loses elections. Chouhan questioned whether the Congress believes democracy becomes legitimate only when the Gandhi family or the Congress is in power, pointing out that the party did not question EVMs when it won elections in Karnataka, Telangana, or Himachal Pradesh.
Chouhan also defended the appointment process of Election Commissioners, accusing Kharge of misleading the public on the matter. He referenced Modi's electoral record, noting that voters elected him Chief Minister for three consecutive terms and subsequently gave him a third consecutive term as Prime Minister, demonstrating their trust in his leadership.
