Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India]: Sanjay Tandon, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) co-incharge for Himachal Pradesh, strongly criticized the Congress Party’s leadership on Thursday, attributing their electoral losses to poor management rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs).
While addressing a state-level organization festival meeting, Tandon responded to recent remarks by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had raised questions about the reliability of EVMs.
Key Remarks from Sanjay Tandon
- Leadership, Not EVMs, to Blame:
Tandon dismissed allegations against EVMs, stating,”Congress had to face a crushing defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections not because of EVMs, but because of the poor management of its leadership. Kharge should change Rahul Gandhi, not EVMs.” - “RBM – Rahul’s Bad Management”:
Tandon criticized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, blaming it for the party’s repeated losses. He remarked,”The fault is not in the machine, but in the leadership of Congress. Congress should change Rahul Gandhi, not EVMs.” - Decline in Congress’s Performance:
Highlighting Congress’s declining electoral presence, he pointed to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, where Congress managed to win only 16 of the 288 seats, compared to the BJP-backed Mahayuti alliance’s landslide victory. - Congress in Jharkhand:
Tandon also commented on the Congress’s poor show in Jharkhand, where despite being part of the ruling JMM-led Mahagathbandhan, Congress secured just 16 seats compared to BJP’s 21.”This crushing defeat of Congress has disappointed the party, leading to absurd statements by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders in anger.”
Broader Implications
Tandon’s remarks add to the BJP’s ongoing critique of Congress’s electoral strategies and leadership challenges. His comments reflect BJP’s confidence in its political strategy, contrasting it with the perceived disarray within the Congress.
The ongoing debate over EVMs and leadership underscores the intensifying political rivalry as parties gear up for upcoming elections across several states and the 2024 General Elections.