GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, October 12, challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to seek the resignation of congress led state governments formed during Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure and announce that the Congress would not contest upcoming elections as long as Kumar remains in office.
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Speaking to the media at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur, Sarma launched an attack on the Congress over its demand for Kumar’s resignation amid allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“Today, I want to issue a challenge to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party,” Sarma said.
As his first challenge, Sarma asked Gandhi to demand the resignation of governments in states where the Congress is in power or is part of the ruling alliance.
“First, ask all your state governments formed during Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's tenure to resign. Ask the Kerala government to resign, ask the Jharkhand government to resign, ask the Karnataka government to resign, ask the Telangana government to resign, and ask your alliance government in Tamil Nadu to resign,” Sarma said.
He also challenged Gandhi to announce that the Congress would boycott upcoming Assembly elections as long as Kumar continues as the CEC.
“And also announce that as long as Gyanesh Kumar remains the CEC, you will not contest the next elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, or Uttarakhand,” Sarma said.
The Chief Minister further questioned the Congress’s criticism of the Election Commission, pointing out that Gandhi became the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha under the same poll body.
“You yourself became the Leader of the Opposition under the conduct of this very Election Commission. All those MPs who are creating a drama there became MPs under this exact same Election Commission,” Sarma said.
He also accused the Congress of questioning the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs) when the BJP wins elections while accepting them when the Congress emerges victorious.
“When you (Congress) win an election, EVMs are fine; but when I (BJP) win an election, the elections are rigged or bad?” Sarma said.
The remarks came amid protests by INDIA bloc MPs against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR process.
