Over the past 11 years, a ‘conspiratorial attempt’ was being made by the RSS-BJP combine to ‘hollow out India’s long-cherished and painstakingly built democracy’
NEW DELHI – Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of systematically undermining the country’s electoral democracy with the tacit support of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
In a post on X, Kharge said that over the past 11 years, a “conspiratorial attempt” was being made by the RSS-BJP combine to “hollow out India’s long-cherished and painstakingly built democracy.” According to him, the BJP is no longer merely contesting elections but is “coming for the voter directly.”
Kharge alleged that electoral manipulation, presented as “reform,” was being used as a tool to erode the constitutional right to vote. He cited two recent developments to substantiate his charge: the large-scale deletion of voters, particularly among vulnerable groups, during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, and what he described as the “Vote Chori” scandal revealed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
“These are not isolated incidents but part of a steady and strategic effort to chip away at the integrity of elections,” Kharge said, warning that such practices threaten the very foundation of free and fair polls.
The Congress chief also raised alarm over the proposed 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, calling it a “legislative Trojan Horse.” According to him, the draft legislation could empower the Centre to dismiss elected state governments within 30 days on allegations of corruption — charges that, he suggested, could be conveniently determined by agencies allegedly working under the BJP’s influence.
“Why bother with elections when you can legally bulldoze elected chief ministers within 30 days?” Kharge asked rhetorically. He claimed the measure would weaken federalism and give unprecedented powers to the Union government at the cost of democratically elected state leaders.
Linking his appeal to the International Day of Democracy, Kharge urged citizens to remain vigilant and defend the country’s constitutional institutions. “Let us reaffirm our pledge to save our constitutional framework from the clutches of RSS-BJP,” he wrote, calling on people across party lines to resist any attempt to dilute the integrity of the ballot and the autonomy of state governments.
The remarks come amid an escalating political row over alleged electoral malpractices and voter roll irregularities, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of weaponising administrative processes to gain an unfair advantage.
