The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, held after significant electoral defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra, led to the party’s decision to initiate a “national movement” advocating for “free and fair elections.” Instead of focusing solely on the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), a point of contention in the aftermath of the polls, the CWC agreed to broaden the movement’s scope to encompass the entire electoral process.
The resolution, which did not specifically mention EVMs, emphasized that the integrity of elections is being seriously compromised, particularly due to the “partisan functioning” of the Election Commission. It stressed the importance of ensuring that elections, a constitutional mandate, are fair, transparent, and free from manipulation. The CWC highlighted widespread public concerns about electoral practices and vowed to take these issues up as part of a larger national movement.
Regarding the recent losses, the resolution pointed to “electoral malpractices” as a key factor in the defeats in both Haryana and Maharashtra. The Congress claimed that the party should have secured a decisive victory in Haryana but that malpractices, which were overlooked, had influenced the result. The party also expressed shock at the outcome in Maharashtra, calling it a case of “targeted manipulation.”
Various leaders weighed in on the issue of EVMs during the meeting. While Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and some others called for a return to paper ballots, a broader consensus emerged that the focus should be on addressing the entire electoral process. Rahul Gandhi, supporting this view, emphasized that the issue of EVMs should be part of a larger demand for electoral reform, not the sole point of contention.
In addition to discussing electoral reform, the CWC also criticized the central government for blocking discussions on critical issues in Parliament, such as the Adani bribery scandal and the ongoing violence in Manipur. The CWC denounced the government’s actions, accusing it of stifling important debates and fostering communal tensions in various states, particularly Uttar Pradesh.
The CWC’s resolution marks a shift in strategy. The party seeks to appeal to a wider audience by advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the electoral system rather than focusing narrowly on one specific issue, like EVM integrity. The party’s resolve to pursue these concerns reflects its deep dissatisfaction with recent electoral outcomes and its commitment to addressing perceived injustices in the current political system.