Congress and BJP clash over Election Commission's conduct in recent polls

India's two major political parties escalated their public confrontation over the Election Commission on Tuesday, with Congress leaders alleging irregularities in recent electoral processes while the BJP accused the opposition of making baseless claims to deflect from electoral losses.

During a Congress Working Committee meeting, party leaders raised concerns about the conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, citing allegations of electronic voting machine tampering and voter list discrepancies. Congress representatives indicated the party would pursue peaceful protests in coordination with other opposition parties to address their grievances regarding electoral administration.

The BJP responded swiftly to the allegations, with senior party figures arguing that the Congress was attempting to deflect attention from its electoral performance by attacking institutional bodies rather than conducting an honest assessment of its campaign shortcomings. Party spokespersons contended that the Election Commission had administered the elections fairly and questioned the credibility of the opposition's claims.

The dispute reflects the deepening polarization between the two parties over questions of electoral governance and institutional integrity. The Congress has previously raised concerns about electoral processes in Karnataka, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, while the BJP maintains that all elections have been conducted in accordance with established procedures and legal frameworks.