New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for publicly questioning the integrity of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
In a detailed post on X, Pradhan stated that the ECI is a constitutional authority whose functioning should not be questioned. He also urged the Congress to introspect following repeated electoral setbacks.
He remarked that when the Congress wins in Kerala, the ECI is described as credible and independent, but when results go against it, the same institution is labelled compromised and the outcome described as stolen. He added that such a convenience-driven approach reflects inconsistency in the Congress party’s interpretation of democracy.
The Union minister further said that the Congress appears to believe that democracy is valid only when it wins.
In his post on X, Pradhan stated: “The ECI remains a constitutional authority that has conducted elections across states and decades, with outcomes favouring different parties at different points in time-BJP, Congress, and regional parties alike. Institutional integrity cannot be switched on and off depending on who wins.”
He added that selectively framing results – from West Bengal to Assam – through suspicion rather than acceptance reduces complex voter decisions to political accusations.
Pradhan stated that Rahul and the Congress must recognise that mandates are decided by voters and not shaped through post-result narratives. He said that a mandate remains valid irrespective of political convenience, adding that democracy depends on acceptance of electoral verdicts and accountability to the people rather than attempts to delegitimise outcomes.
On Monday, Rahul had alleged in a post on X that the results in Assam and West Bengal indicated that the election was influenced in favour of the BJP with the support of the Election Commission.
