Opposition targets EC, EVMs only after poll defeats: Shinde
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday accused Opposition parties of questioning the credibility of the Election Commission and electronic voting machines only after suffering electoral defeats.
Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, a constituent of the ruling NDA, also criticised demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Opposition does not target the poll panel when the Congress wins elections.
"We are seeing what is happening. When the Congress wins in Telangana, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, the Opposition does not comment on the Election Commission," Shinde told reporters.
He accused the Congress and its allies of adopting "double standards" by questioning the EC and EVMs after losing elections.
The remarks came amid demands by the Congress and several other parties and organisations for Kumar's ouster following a recent investigation by The Indian Express, which reported that two election commissioners had formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months to the poll panel's handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Shinde also alleged that Opposition parties criticise the judiciary and the Election Commission when decisions do not go in their favour.
On EVMs, the Maharashtra deputy chief minister said the machines were introduced during the Congress-led rule.
He said former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had amended rules and suggested to the Election Commission that elections be conducted using EVMs.
"Every wrongdoing will be probed," Shinde said, adding that he was not speaking in support of anyone.
