Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday countered Congress ’ charge that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) benefits BJP, while pointing to West Bengal where Trinamool Congress (TMC) won in 15 constituencies that saw the sharpest SIR-linked drop in voters.
“In West Bengal, there are 15 constituencies where SIR removed a large number of voters, and TMC still got elected there. I would request the Prime Minister that some committee be formed that can bring back Rahul Gandhi’s stolen brain and return it to him, so that he speaks in the country’s interest, speaks correctly, speaks the truth.
Fadnavis said Congress questions the integrity of polls only when it loses. There has to be some logic behind allegations,” he said. Fadnavis said Saturday’s joint news conference by India’s three election commissioners had exposed the narrative Congress built around a letter the poll panel sent to cabinet secretary. It relates to an appointment made on deputation,” he said. On the objection process, Fadnavis said, “Every political party has the opportunity to appoint booth-level agents. On the “vote chori” (vote theft) charge Congress has raised over SIR, Fadnavis said, “No vote theft has happened. “When Supreme Court said there should be a committee to select election commissioners, with the Chief Justice of India, the leader of the opposition and the Prime Minister on it, the court set up such a committee. But Narendra Modi changed that committee,” Londhe said.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had recently levelled allegations against Election Commission, saying elections are rigged. “The letter is not on any policy issue at all. They have the right to raise an objection on every page of the voter list, on every name. If a name has been wrongly left out, you can object. If someone’s name has not come up, you can object. Rahul Gandhi’s brain has been stolen. State Congress’ senior spokesperson Atul Londhe hit back at Fadnavis over the charge of undermining the Constitution.