Yeh Desh Rehna Chahiye

Congress on path of mandate denial

Dear Reader,

It appears that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, his allies, and team are pushing the narrative that if BJP and Modi win the 2024 election, it's because the exercise was not free and fair.

• This is being propped up by manufacturing issues like EVM tampering, despite the Supreme Court reprimanding such "frivolous attempts."

What They're Saying: The Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi, has made statements hinting at rejecting the results, alleging a "rigged" or "stolen" election.

• Jairam Ramesh alleged Amit Shah contacted 150 District Magistrates ahead of counting.

• Priyanka Gandhi claimed BJP "will not even get 200 seats" if polls are conducted fairly.

• Akhilesh Yadav alleged "results were distorted" and said the youth were ready for a new "independence movement."

Behind the Narrative: A concerted campaign has been underway for over a year to plant doubts about EVMs, voter rolls, and the integrity of institutions like the EC and judiciary.

• Efforts include spreading manufactured issues, soliciting foreign interference, portraying an atmosphere of inevitability around rigging claims.

• Tactics range from stray tweets to op-eds in foreign media questioning India's democracy.

What's Next: With BJP likely headed for victory, the opposition appears primed to deploy "mandate denial" tactics.

• We hope they don't go down this path.

• Remember Atal Behari Vajpayee's words: "Sarkarein aayegi jayegi ..partiyaan banegi bigadegi lekin yeh desh rehna Chahiye..Is desh ka lok tantra Amar rehna Chahiye"

• A loose translation: Governments will come and go, parties will form and break but this country must stand above all, our democracy must flourish.

• Vajpayee spoke these words just before announcing that he did not have the majority and was resigning from PM office.

Amar Govindarajan & Anmol Jain.