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Minister's Response to Allegations

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has dismissed Rahul Gandhi's allegations of electoral fraud in Maharashtra as a predictable narrative that the Congress party follows after losing elections, portraying itself as a victim of a fabricated system. This rebuttal comes in response to Gandhi's article in a prominent publication, where he accused the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of manipulating the election results, suggesting similar tactics would be employed in the Bihar elections.

Political Commentary on Democracy

In a post on social media, Pradhan stated that Gandhi's remarks regarding the Maharashtra elections are nothing more than a rehearsed script—losing elections, tarnishing institutions, concocting conspiracies, and claiming victimhood. He emphasized that India's democracy is far more resilient than the insecurities of a dynast who repeatedly refuses to accept electoral outcomes. If Gandhi is concerned about any fraud, it should be the misuse of Article 356 by his party, which has historically been adept at dismissing opposition governments and imposing emergency measures.

Reflections on Democratic Processes

The minister recalled Gandhi's previous comments made at Cambridge University, where he claimed that Indian democracy is dead, yet Congress members continue to participate in elections, campaign freely, and only blame electronic voting machines when they lose. Regarding the Election Commission, Pradhan pointed out that it was the Modi government that improved the process by including the Leader of the Opposition in the panel—an inclusion that was absent during Congress's rule for decades. This raises the question of who is truly safeguarding democracy.

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