States » NorthPosted at: Sep 28 2026 10:38PM


Himachal BJP asks Congress to respond to EC clarification with facts

Shimla, September 28 (UNI)Shimla Zila Parishad chairman Bhupendra Singh Sisodia on Monday accused the Congress of creating political confusion over the Election Commission and electoral processes and urged the party to base its allegations on verified facts and official records. Addressing a press conference here, Sisodia said the Election Commission had issued a clarification on September 26 following media reports about objections reportedly raised by two Election Commissioners over certain procedures.
He said the Congress had continued to raise objections, terming the Commission’s clarification inadequate.
Sisodia said questioning constitutional institutions was part of a democratic process, but political parties should place facts, official records and judicial decisions before the public while making allegations concerning electoral institutions.
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he said the objective should be to update voter lists while ensuring that every eligible citizen retained the right to vote.
He said particular attention was required in a hill state like Himachal Pradesh to ensure access to the electoral process for people living in remote and rural areas, senior citizens, migrant workers and other eligible voters.
“If the Congress has questions about SIR or any other electoral process, it should place concrete facts and the legal basis for its objections before the people,” he said, adding that political statements should not create unnecessary doubts about the electoral system.
Sisodia also stressed the need to distinguish between internal administrative correspondence and formal policy decisions of the Election Commission.
He said recent media reports and the subsequent clarification issued by the Commission should be considered together rather than presenting isolated portions for political purposes.
Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on electronic voting machines in June 2024, Sisodia said political parties had the right to seek electoral reforms, but such debates should be based on technical evidence, facts and institutional procedures.
He also referred to the 2019 Supreme Court proceedings involving Gandhi’s “Chowkidar Chor Hai” remark in the Rafale deal case. Sisodia said Gandhi had tendered an unconditional apology for attributing the remark to the Supreme Court’s order and that the court subsequently closed the contempt proceedings while cautioning him to exercise greater care in future.
Turning to state issues, Sisodia said the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh should respond to questions concerning employment, roads, healthcare, education, drinking water, rural development and the state’s financial position.
He said people were more interested in the progress of development works, employment opportunities, improvement in rural infrastructure and availability of resources for Panchayati Raj institutions than in political allegations concerning national institutions.
Sisodia said Zila Parishads and other Panchayati Raj bodies were directly connected with people at the grassroots and urged the state government to give priority to their financial and developmental requirements.
He said debates over constitutional institutions were essential in a democracy, but verified facts should remain central to public discourse.
Any remaining questions concerning the Election Commission’s recent clarification, he added, should be addressed through official records, legal procedures and transparency.
UNI BN
Tags: #Himachal BJP asks Congress to respond to EC clarification with facts
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