‘Crushing democracy in their DNA’: Shivraj on Congress demanding return to ballot papers

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has criticized the Congress party for disregarding the public's decision following electoral losses, alleging that questioning the Election Commission and advocating for ballot-paper voting is ingrained in the party's "DNA". Chouhan pointed out that the Congress accepts the Election Commission's verdict when it endorses their victories in states like Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh, but raises doubts when it loses. He questioned why the party had not raised similar objections during those triumphs.

Addressing reporters, Chouhan also lambasted Congress leaders for pushing for a return to ballot-paper voting, citing past allegations of booth capturing and manipulation during the 1980s and 1990s. He accused the party of attempting to undermine democratic institutions, particularly by invoking the Emergency and alleging that the Congress had weakened democracy in the past while echoing the same tactics.

These statements surfaced a day after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies, contending that recent elections were "illegal". Kharge demanded fresh elections conducted using ballot papers, alleging that elected leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Chief Ministers are ineligible to hold office.

He urged the country to dissolve existing governments and hold new elections following the traditional ballot-paper method.