Chouhan mocks Opposition over EVM complaints

Chouhan challenged the INDIA bloc’s narrative during a press conference on Wednesday, pointing to recent Congress victories in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh as evidence that Electronic Voting Machines function reliably. He argued that the Opposition’s push for a return to paper ballots ignores the constitutional authority of the Election Commission. Instead of systemic flaws, the Minister attributed the protests to a desperate attempt to protect dynastic political interests rather than any genuine concern for democratic health.

The exchange follows a three-and-a-half-hour strategy meeting held by the INDIA bloc in New Delhi, where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced a series of nationwide protests. Kharge accused the government of compromising independent institutions and scheduled a 'Save Democracy March' to take place between October 2 and October 8. Opposition leaders plan to escalate their grievances by marching to the Election Commission on October 6 and seeking a formal audience with President Droupadi Murmu later that month.

Addressing claims regarding leadership, Chouhan also targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asserting that the public—not political leaders—determines who holds executive office. He challenged INDIA bloc allies to publicly declare Rahul Gandhi as their leader, suggesting that their reluctance to do so highlights a lack of internal cohesion.