Athawale Slams Opposition Rallies and Vote Theft Allegations

Mumbai, November 1: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has criticised the opposition's rallies and the accusations directed at the Election Commission. He asserted that the national mood is firmly in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA.

According to Athawale, protest is a legitimate part of democratic politics, but attacking constitutional institutions to generate controversy is not acceptable.

On Rahul Gandhi's rallies, he said the Congress leader is free to hold as many as he likes. But he added that the ongoing criticism and demonstrations against the Election Commission have resulted in public resentment.

He explained that the Election Commission had removed certain voter names as part of an effort to clean up the voter list. Creating a deliberate dispute over this, he said, is unwarranted. Athawale also pointed out that the present Chief Election Commissioner was appointed during the Congress era, long before the BJP government took office in 2014.

He maintained that such statements and drama do not suit a democracy. Persistent protests cause hardship for citizens, and governments are not changed through agitation. If the opposition wishes to bring about a change, he said, it can raise the matter in the 2029 elections. He cautioned that the use of abusive language against Prime Minister Modi is tarnishing the Congress's reputation.

Athawale also questioned the Congress's prime ministerial hopes for Rahul Gandhi. He said that if Rahul Gandhi was destined to be prime minister, he should have got the chance when Manmohan Singh held the post. He argued that the party is unlikely to win a majority now. He further cited Amit Shah's remark that the goal of making Rahul Gandhi prime minister will not be achieved as long as the NDA remains strong.

On the rally's impact on businesses, Athawale said it should not have been organised just before Diwali. Traders had requested that it be postponed, but their appeal went unheard, causing them losses.

He praised Mamata Banerjee as a dashing woman who has been chief minister three times and has also held a Union ministerial post. However, he took issue with her allegation that the BJP's 2026 assembly win was the result of vote theft. He said that in 2021, when her government came to power, no such charge was made, and everyone accepted the mandate. He said he had congratulated her then.

He claimed that her stance changes depending on who wins, saying she dismisses vote theft when she is in power but raises it when the BJP forms a government. He said she is free to continue her agitation, while the government will keep working on development.

Athawale also referred to 1984, when after Indira Gandhi's assassination ordinary people were attacked, many Sikhs were killed, and homes were burnt. He said Home Minister Amit Shah was correct in noting that the Sikh community cannot forget those events. He added that a government is about to be formed in Punjab.