Vote Theft Allegations Baseless: Union Minister Athawale Slams Opposition

Jaipur: The Pink City Press Club concluded a three-day celebration of its 35th foundation day on Thursday. During the event, journalists who had contributed significantly to the field were honoured with awards.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale graced the occasion as chief guest. Talking to journalists, he launched a strong attack on the opposition over its call for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, which followed charges of vote theft.

Athawale argued that the majority decides who forms the government in a democracy. He pointed out that Congress had ruled the country for many years. He said the NDA was expected to win close to 400 seats in 2024 but fell considerably short. He noted that Congress's seat count rose sharply, yet the BJP did not accuse anyone of vote theft at that time. In his view, opposition parties tend to make such allegations in regions where the ruling alliance secures a larger share of votes.

He also said that people have the right to pick whoever they want to govern. He highlighted that Narendra Modi had been given a third chance to serve as Prime Minister and described him as a leader who delivers good work. Athawale expressed complete faith that the NDA would return to power in 2029.

He said the opposition is free to pursue its democratic goal of forming a government and to approach voters. Still, he insisted that the Election Commission should not be made a target. According to him, the Commission must prepare an accurate voter roll, a point on which he agreed with the opposition. He stressed that every voter has the right to vote and that this right must not be taken away. He suggested that the opposition should give proposals on the issue, and he maintained that demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation was pointless.

Athawale acknowledged that the opposition may hold protests. However, he said a government cannot be changed overnight through agitation, as seen in Bangladesh. While acknowledging that such upheavals occurred in Sri Lanka and Nepal, he said this could not happen in India. Protests, he maintained, do not change governments, because the country is governed by the Constitution.