Rijiju Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Poll Defeats, Defends Election Commission
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hit back at Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader must accept responsibility for repeated poll losses instead of blaming the Election Commission, calling his remarks “anti-India propaganda.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asking him to “accept responsibility” for his party’s repeated electoral losses instead of blaming institutions like the Election Commission.
The remarks came after Gandhi alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was protecting those involved in “vote theft” and that names of Congress supporters were being deliberately removed from voter lists in Karnataka. The Election Commission dismissed these claims as “baseless,” insisting that deletions cannot happen without due process.
Speaking at a public event in Delhi, Rijiju said:
“If you keep losing elections, you must accept leadership failures. Instead of doing that, Rahul Gandhi blames institutions. Is this the right way?”
The minister further alleged that Gandhi’s statements echo propaganda from across the border. “Whatever Pakistan says, Rahul Gandhi and his group repeat in India. These narratives are then picked up by anti-India forces,” Rijiju remarked.
The comments highlight the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress over election credibility. While the BJP accuses Rahul of weakening trust in institutions, the Congress insists that voter roll manipulation and electoral malpractice are genuine issues that deserve investigation.
The larger question remains: should concerns about free and fair elections be dismissed as “propaganda,” or should institutions engage more transparently to maintain public confidence?