Congress vows movement against 'compromised' poll process

The resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Friday, held in the backdrop of major electoral defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana, called for "a national movement" against what it called the "compromised" election process and against "the partisan conduct of the Election Commission" even as some at the meeting also stressed on the need to address party's organisational lethargy and to take the much-delayed corrective steps.

The AICC will typically form committees to study defeats and promised actions, from AICC set-up downwards. In his address to CWC, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that "EVM has made the electoral process suspicious" but he also called for post-defeat "hard decisions". He also underscored the weakness of "party organisation" and the need to address it, criticised infighting in the poll-bound state party units, stressed on the need to convert the "favourable atmosphere into favourable results" by updating electoral/political strategies and communication tactics. But his speech was also conspicuous for recycling the 2022 Udaipur Chintan Shivir resolution thrust that stands unimplemented till now. Priyanka, it is learnt, underscored the need to stay focused on the demand for "reverting to paper ballots" even as Ajay Maken felt senior leaders should tactically avert repeating their chorus against EVMs so that party workers/leaders of poll-bound states are not demoralised. Digvijay Singh is learnt to have pitched for immediate implementation of the Udaipur Chintan Shivar resolution and stressed on the need for politically revitalising the AICC set-up.

While maintaining that the Haryana poll result was "contrary to all expectations" and that of Maharashtra "inexplicable and is, in fact, shocking", the CWC resolution said: "The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission. Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take these public concerns as a "national movement".