Chouhan Accuses Congress of Undermining Election Integrity

The Minister’s remarks follow intensified scrutiny of the Election Commission of India, fueled by reports of internal dissent among commissioners and ongoing opposition campaigns against Electronic Voting Machines. Chouhan characterized the Congress’s push for a return to ballot papers as a regressive attempt to invite the electoral malpractice that plagued the 1980s and 90s. He specifically challenged the party to reconcile its skepticism of the poll body with its recent electoral victories in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh.

Beyond the debate over voting technology, the controversy involves allegations regarding the ECI’s internal decision-making. While recent reports suggested that Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections over electoral roll procedures, the ECI has formally dismissed claims of institutional fracture. The poll panel maintained that administrative inputs during draft stages are standard practice and that all final resolutions were reached unanimously. Undeterred, the INDIA bloc continues to organize nationwide demonstrations, with a major protest scheduled in New Delhi for early November.