After Digvijaya's Claim On EVM, Congress Colleague TS Singh Deo Says Raising Issue After Poll Loss Is 'Not Right'

Congress leader TS Singhdeo that bringing up the issue of EVMs after a defeat is "not right", noting that he is not a believer in EVMs because most developed nations conduct voting through ballots.

Congress leader TS Singh Deo on Friday said that raising the issue of electronic voting machines (EVMs) post-defeat is not right, noting that he is not a believer of the EVMs as in most developed nations the voting process is conducted through ballots. Several Congress leaders, including former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and senior leader Digvijaya Singh, have expressed concern.

Following the recent defeats in the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, the Congress leadership held separate meetings to assess the reasons for the defeats. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge presided over the review meeting, which was attended by former party chief Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in Delhi.

At the meeting, Congress leader TS Singhdeo addressed the party's electoral performance in Chhattisgarh, stating, "Our confidence was anchored in our vote share, which remains unchanged. However, the BJP has seen a 14% increase in its vote share. Discussions covered micro-management strategies and various issues, and the consensus was to move forward without dwelling on the past," news agency PTI quoted him as saying. 

In a broader context, Singhdeo remarked on the party's performance in tribal and urban seats in Chhattisgarh, admitting that the Congress trailed. He emphasised shared responsibility for the election results, saying, "From myself to the polling booth agent, we should all take responsibility for the poll result," he was quoted as saying by ANI. 

As per a PTI report, AICC General Secretary in-charge for Chhattisgarh, Kumari Selja, conveyed the party's sentiment, noting their dejection but dispelling demoralisation. She reaffirmed their collective commitment to contesting and winning the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Selja emphasised that the party has maintained its vote share over the last five years and announced plans for a detailed analysis of the election results in Chhattisgarh, it said. 

In another development, the party shared images from the Chhattisgarh review meeting, which was held at the Congress headquarters in Delhi and attended by leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. AICC General Secretary in-charge Randeep Surjewala, PCC President Kamal Nath, former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, and other state leaders attended a similar review meeting for Madhya Pradesh.