‘Congress part of every conspiracy’: CM Yogi amid 'dissent within EC' row

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended the Election Commission (EC) amid growing dissent over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while criticizing the Congress party for creating confusion and targeting constitutional institutions. Adityanath pointed out that the SIR exercise was not the first of its kind, having been conducted in 1952, 1957, 1961, 1965–66, and 2003.

He accused opposition parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, RJD, and others, of raising undue alarm over the current SIR exercise, calling their actions unfortunate. The EC had already clarified that eligible voters excluded from the SIR would be given an opportunity to submit the required form, and the Supreme Court upheld the EC's decision regarding Form 6.

Adityanath accused Congress and its allies of undermining constitutional institutions and democratic values for political gains, likening their actions to a pattern of attacking India's democratic values. He also criticized the Congress for its objections to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), noting that Congress governments had been formed at the Centre and in several states through EVM-based elections.

Adityanath's comments come amid a political confrontation over reported objections raised by two Election Commissioners to the SIR decisions, with opposition parties demanding action against the Chief Election Commissioner and fresh elections in affected states. The ruling BJP defended the EC, stating that the dissent expressed by Election Commissioners during internal deliberations demonstrated the poll panel's democratic functioning.