'They should abandon the mindset of spoilt prince': BJP slams Congress after ECI rejects Haryana poll claims

NEW DELHI: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi launched a fierce attack on Congress party for its allegations against Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday. He pointed to the EC's detailed 1,642-page response to Congress's accusations, calling it evidence of grand old party's "vengeful pride" and "suspiciously covert" motives.
Trivedi raised questions about Congress's selective criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He pointed out that EVMs functioned without issues in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi but allegedly malfunctioned in Rajasthan in 2023 and in Haryana.
"The EC's extensive 1,642-page response to Congress's baseless and absurd accusations underscores the party's vengeful pride for power--'I am right if I win, and if I lose, someone else is responsible.' This attitude isn't merely amusing but suspicious. Congress's attempts to cast aspersions on the dignity of constitutional institutions are not just ridiculous; they are slyly subversive," Trivedi said during a press conference in New Delhi.
He questioned why EVMs worked well in some states but allegedly failed in others. "EVMs worked perfectly in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal, and Delhi. They performed well in Rajasthan in 2018 but not in 2023. In Haryana, they allegedly malfunctioned," Trivedi added.
Trivedi suggested that Congress's confidence after winning 99 seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections might have contributed to their loss in Haryana. "In the intoxication of '99' and the arrogance of believing power is theirs by right, they should abandon the mindset of a 'spoilt prince' that caused this 'accident.' The public views such accusations with suspicion," he said.
Trivedi also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "unofficial MP" remark, arguing it jeopardizes democracy. He said, "Congress's most prominent and energetic leader claimed he'd remain an unofficial MP. This party, with an unofficial PM for 10 years, still has an unofficial president and, possibly, an unofficial CM in Delhi. Yet they raise their voice against the official constitutional bodies of our country, putting democracy at risk."
The EC rejected Congress's allegations of irregularities in Haryana's recent elections, calling them "baseless, misplaced, and devoid of facts." The ECI urged Congress to stop making groundless accusations, warning that such claims could lead to public unrest and chaos.
In a letter to Congress, the ECI advised the party to exercise caution and employ due diligence rather than repeatedly casting unfounded criticism on electoral processes. The ECI confirmed that each stage of the Haryana election was flawless and observed by Congress candidates or their agents.
Regarding concerns about the EVM battery display, the ECI clarified that the battery voltage and capacity are irrelevant to the machines' vote-counting function and integrity. "The battery status on the control unit merely assists technical teams in monitoring power levels to ensure smooth operation during polling," it said.