New Delhi/Srinagar. After the defeat in the assembly elections, Congress is continuously raising the issue of ‘vote theft’ and irregularities in Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). But, now this narrative of Congress has got a deep blow from within the ‘India’ alliance itself. The recent statements of National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule have isolated the Congress on this issue. The stance of these two key allies seems to deflate Congress’s aggressive strategy.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday distanced himself from the issue of ‘vote theft’ raised by the Congress and said that the alliance of opposition parties ‘India’ has nothing to do with it. Asked to comment on the issue of ‘vote theft’ and alleged electoral irregularities being raised by the Congress, Abdullah said, “India alliance has nothing to do with it. Every political party has the freedom to set its own agenda. The Congress has made ‘vote theft’ and SIR (Special Intensive Revision of Voter List) its main issue. Who are we to say anything to them?”
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule has said that she will not raise questions on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), because she has been elected MP four times with these machines. Supriya Sule’s party NCP (SP) is part of the opposition alliance ‘Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi’, which also includes Congress and Shiv Sena (Ubatha).
Sule, a four-time Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra’s Baramati and working president of NCP (SP), said this during the debate on electoral reforms in the Lok Sabha. Sule said in the House, “I have been elected through this machine, so I will not raise questions on EVM or VVPAT.” She said, “I am not talking against the machine. I am making a very limited point and I have big expectations from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has got such a huge mandate in Maharashtra.”
Why a setback for Congress?
Weakening of Narrative: Congress and Rahul Gandhi have been trying for a long time to set the narrative that BJP is winning elections by rigging EVMs. When the main constituents of the alliance (NCP-SP) and the National Conference distance themselves from this theory, then the Congress’s claim among the public starts looking like ‘desperation of defeat’.
Contradictions in alliance: The statements of Omar Abdullah and Supriya Sule have shown a rift in opposition unity. BJP can now easily say that when Congress’s allies trust EVMs, then Congress should also accept its defeat. This weakens the Congress’s protests from Parliament to the streets.
Advice for introspection: The stance of Omar Abdullah and Supriya Sule gives a message that the opposition needs to strengthen its hold on the ground instead of fighting the machines. This is an indirect advice to the Congress leadership to address organizational weaknesses instead of finding technical flaws.
Questions on reliability: When the alliance partners do not support the Congress on EVMs, it sends a message to the public that the Congress is unable to digest the defeat and is only making excuses.
BJP got weapons: The statements of Omar and Supriya have given the BJP a sitting issue. BJP is now easily saying that when only Rahul Gandhi’s allies are expressing confidence in EVMs, then why is Congress misleading the country?
Legal battle weak: Congress is fighting against EVM in the Election Commission and the court. But politically, when its own allies (who themselves have contested elections) reject this theory, then the Congress side becomes morally weak.
Dispersion in opposition: This case shows that there is no unanimity on national issues in the ‘India’ alliance. On one hand, Congress is calling EVM a villain by giving the slogan ‘Constitution and democracy are in danger’, while on the other hand its allies are accepting the ground reality.
Certainly, the statement of Omar Abdullah and Supriya Sule is a big blow for the Congress because it takes away from them their biggest ‘weapon of defence’. If there is no consensus on EVMs within the opposition, then their arguments before the Election Commission and the Supreme Court will prove ineffective. Congress will now have to decide whether it will proceed alone on the EVM issue or follow the advice of its allies and choose the path of introspection.
