- Announces statewide Protests
Bhopal – In a fiery press conference, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of acting as a “BJP agent.” He asserted that the ECI has compromised its impartiality, evolving from a “guardian of democracy” into a “thief.”
= Accusations and evidence Patwari’s press conference was a direct attack on the ECI’s credibility. He claimed that the commission’s role is no longer unbiased, citing what he called a dangerous trend of electoral irregularities. He further said that the ECI is attempting to intimidate Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, by demanding an affidavit to prove their claims. Patwari backed his claims by highlighting public statements from prominent BJP leaders. “I question the Election Commission,” he said, “when BJP MP Janardan Mishra openly admits to verifying 1,000 fraudulent votes in every house. Likewise, BJP minister Anurag Thakur publicly spoke about increasing votes in Rae Bareli.”
= Statewide protests announced Patwari connected these statements to Rahul Gandhi’s earlier accusations of “vote theft,” arguing that even BJP leaders now confirm the issue. To protest these alleged breaches of democracy, Patwari announced that the Congress party will launch a statewide protest from August 25 to September 5.
= Addressing internal dissent Addressing questions about recent appointments of district presidents, which have sparked some dissent, Patwari clarified that he had no personal involvement. He stated that the appointments were made in line with the wishes of the party’s high command and Rahul Gandhi, who had personally consulted several leaders. Jaivardhan Singh, a newly appointed district president, also spoke, defending the move. He thanked the leadership and affirmed his unwavering support for Patwari’s leadership, promising to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
