Shah's ballot paper remark prompts BJP officials to blame Congress' disconnect, not voting tech

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark that Gujarat’s election was conducted on ballot paper, yet the Congress still lost, sparked a chorus of agreement among NDA politicians in Bihar and Jharkhand. They collectively dismissed the relevance of voting technology and focused criticism on the opposition’s lack of grassroots work.

Ram Kripal Yadav, a minister from Bihar, said the statement is “absolutely correct” and urged Rahul Gandhi to learn from the BJP’s approach. He highlighted the party’s clean sweep in Gujarat and across many municipal polls, stressing that the Congress must ask itself whether it will survive beyond 2029.

National spokesperson Guru Prakash added that whether elections are run on paper ballots or electronic machines, the result is the same: Congress loses. He cited student union elections at Delhi University, Punjab University and the Silchar poll in Assam as recent examples where the party was defeated despite the use of ballots.

JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan reinforced the idea that voters reward performance. He said the Gujarat local‑body outcomes prove that “the people’s choice follows those who have delivered tangible change,” regardless of the voting medium.

Chief spokesperson Pratul Shahdev framed Shah’s comment as an opening statement, accusing Rahul Gandhi of shielding foreign infiltrators and alleging that non‑citizens were added to voter lists in Jharkhand.

All speakers agreed that the real issue lies in Congress’ failure to connect with the electorate, not in whether ballots or EVMs are employed.