EC, EVM Criticism After Poll Losses Shows Opposition’s Double Standards: Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday accused the Opposition of targeting the Election Commission and electronic voting machines (EVMs) only after losing elections, alleging that its criticism reflects “double standards”.

Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena and is a constituent of the ruling NDA, was responding to demands by the Congress and several other Opposition parties and organisations for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

He said the Opposition does not question the credibility of the Election Commission 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.

His remarks came amid calls for Kumar’s removal following a recent Indian Express investigation which claimed that two election commissioners had formally raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding the poll panel’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Shinde also accused Opposition parties of questioning institutions such as the judiciary and the Election Commission when decisions do not go in their favour.

On the issue of EVMs, the Maharashtra deputy chief minister said the machines were introduced during the Congress’ tenure in power.

He referred to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, saying that during his tenure, rules were amended and the Election Commission was advised to conduct elections using EVMs.

Shinde said criticism of the voting system should not be selective and maintained that any wrongdoing should be investigated. “Every wrongdoing will be probed,” he said, while stressing that he was not speaking in support of anyone.

The Opposition has continued to raise concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission, particularly in connection with the SIR exercise, and has sought greater accountability from the poll panel.