Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
Participating in the discussion on the vote of thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi made several allegations against the government. He said that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had gone to America to invite the Prime Minister to Trump’s swearing -in ceremony. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called this accusation wrong, asked to withdraw his statement. Then Rahul Gandhi attacked the government on the pretext of China, said that China has captured our 4,000 square kilometers of land. Kiran Rijiju interrupted, said that Rahul has faith in China but our army is not sure.
After this, Rahul Gandhi targeted the Election Commission. In Maharashtra, the Election Commission was held responsible for the bad defeat of Congress’s Maha Vikas Aghadi. He said that between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, 76 lakh voters increased in the state, BJP won the election of Maharashtra due to these new voters. Rahul said that even after repeated demands, the Election Commission is not giving them the data of new voters.
Rahul Gandhi said, ‘New voters equal to the population of Himachal Pradesh were added to the voter list of Maharashtra, most of the new voters were added to the same assembly constituencies, where the BJP won the assembly elections. I am not accusing the Election Commission, but I am saying in the House that the Election Commission will have to give the figures related to the voters of Maharashtra to the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP and I am confident that the Election Commission does not have these figures to us Will give I am saying this because the rules have been changed. I am not saying this suddenly.
Rahul Gandhi said that the election commissioners were first selected by the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of the country together. ‘But by changing the rules, the Chief Justice was removed from the selection committee. Why? This question is from the Prime Minister. They should explain why the Chief Justice was removed from the selection committee. After a few days, I am going to the meeting of Election Commissioner. Amit Shah and Modi will also be in that meeting. Think, on one side there will be Amit Shah and Modi, on the other hand I alone. What does it mean to go to such a meeting? Are I going to the meeting only because Modi ji and Amit Shah have decided to appoint, I should also stam him?
Rahul Gandhi questioned the results of Maharashtra election by saying that 70 lakh voters were added between the assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. The Congress party wrote a long letter to the Election Commission after the election in this matter. The Election Commission responded to 66 pages. In this, the Congress alleged about voters that more than 50 thousand votes increased in 50 constituencies. Of these, 47 seats were where the BJP won in Maharashtra. The Election Commission termed it as a sheer lie, wrong.
The Election Commission said that more than 50 thousand new voters were added in only six assembly constituencies, not in 50 areas. Regarding 70 lakh voters, the Election Commission had said that this figure is also wrong. 41 lakh new voters were added to Maharashtra. Of these, 26 lakh were new young voters, including 9 lakh voters in the age of 18-19 years, who got their votes. Elections will come that Maharashtra has one lakh polling booths. If an average of 40 voters grow per polling booths, then there should be no surprise. From time to time, the Election Commission campaigns to connect new voters.
When such a campaign took place in 2018, more than 28 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra in 2 months. Then no one raised the question. Surprisingly, Rahul Gandhi had full reply to the Election Commission. Despite this, the same questions were raised in the Lok Sabha, which the Election Commission has given a series of answers. (Rajat Sharma)
See: ‘Today’s talk with Rajat Sharma’ full episode of February 03, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-fntnw7jzy
Latest india news
6
