Jaipur, May 5 (IANS) The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) on Tuesday welcomed the party’s return to power in Kerala after a decade, while launching a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the alleged misuse of institutions during the recently concluded Assembly elections in five states.

Addressing the media in Jaipur, State Congress Chief Govind Singh Dotasra said the Congress-led alliance’s decisive victory in Kerala was the result of sustained efforts by the party leadership, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, and Priyanka Gandhi.

He alleged that despite “adverse conditions” and “pressure tactics”, Congress workers across states remained committed, leading to the party’s strong performance in Kerala.

Referring to the elections in West Bengal, Dotasra alleged irregularities in the electoral process and claimed that democratic norms were undermined.

He questioned the role of institutions such as the Election Commission of India and alleged misuse of central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, and Central Bureau of Investigation.

Dotasra also raised concerns over voter list revisions, claiming that a large number of voters were placed under “pending adjudication”, and questioned whether such voters would be allowed to exercise their franchise in future or if re-polling would be required in affected Assembly constituencies.

“Notices were issued to 13.6 million people, and three million individuals were placed in a “pending adjudication” category; notably, no judicial decision regarding their status was delivered until the elections were concluded.”

He also alleged that a large number of government officials were removed during the West Bengal elections and questioned whether similar action would take place in BJP-ruled states.

Dotasra also criticised enforcement actions against political consultants and officials during the election period, terming them “unprecedented”.

He accused the BJP government of focusing on celebrations instead of governance in Rajasthan.

Without naming individuals, the State Congress President criticised the state leadership for “symbolic politics” while key issues such as unemployment, drinking water shortages, and law and order remain unresolved.

He cited incidents of crime and delays in recruitment processes, including concerns related to cancelled examinations, and said the BJP-led state government must prioritise public welfare over political optics.

Dotasra warned that continued erosion of democratic norms could weaken the electoral process and urged institutions to function impartially.

He said that the political developments in West Bengal should prompt a broader national debate on safeguarding democratic rights.

–IANS

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