Mumbai, Sep 27 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday hit out at the Opposition over its demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, pointing out that it does not attack the Election Commission whenever the Congress wins state polls.
Accusing the Opposition of double standards, Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, a constituent of the ruling NDA, said that the Congress and its allies question the credibility of the EC and EVMs only after losing elections.
The deputy chief minister’s remarks have come amid demands by the Congress and several other parties and organisations for Kumar’s ouster after a recent investigation by The Indian Express claimed that two election commissioners formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months to the poll panel’s handling of the SIR process.
“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 Opposition parties of passing remarks against the judiciary and EC only when decisions are not in their favour.
The deputy chief minister further pointed out that EVMs were introduced during the Congress rule.
When Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister, he had the rule amended and suggested to the EC that polls be conducted with EVMs, he said.
Every wrongdoing will be probed, Shinde said, stressing that he is not speaking in support of anyone. PTI PR ARU
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