Cong blames ‘problem with EVMs’ for its LS, Assembly defeats

* AICC chief Sonia Gandhi calls meeting of all state unit chiefs of party on October 28 in Delhi, to assess the situation
Staff Reporter
Defeated in Lok Sabha as well as Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, Congress has now started blaming ‘problem with EVMs’ for its rout. Manikrao Thakre, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President who resigned recently, said that the party was receiving several complaints from its candidates raising doubts over functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
“There is need for conducting a probe into this,” said Thakre while addressing a press conference in Nagpur on Saturday. However, he said that the party would not lodge official complaint against EVMs with Election Commission of India. “It is for the individual candidates to take appropriate decision,” he added. He told mediapersons that Sonia Gandhi, All India Congress Committee (AICC) President, had called a meeting with chiefs of all state units of the party on October 28 at New Delhi. In the meeting, the issue of EVMs also would be discussed.

Published in The Hitavada CityLine on October 26, 2014

MPCC chief said that people’s aspirations were high from Congress-NCP coalition that was in power for 15 years and Congress lagged in publicity campaign, when asked about reasons behind Congress’ dismal performance in Maharashtra.
On various Congress leaders flaying party leadership, Thakre said, “Congress has always been led by Gandhi family.” Some leaders also said that Rahul Gandhi was ineffective. Thakre expressed his disagreement with them.
Thakre blamed long-time alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for snapping ties. Expressing ‘surprise’ over NCP offering support to BJP, he said, “NCP appears to have stopped somewhere on ideological front.” On Vidarbha statehood issue, he said, “Let us see if BJP leaders succeed in getting statehood.” In future, Congress would serve people by sitting in opposition and also unite secular forces. He expected the new Government to pay heed towards farmers’ issues, cotton procurement problems, inadequate power supply for agriculture etc.
Dr Nitin Raut, former EGS Minister; Vikas Thakre, Congress city unit chief; K K Pandey, Tanaji Wanve were present at the press conference.

No place for rebels: Thakre

In the recently held Assembly elections, many Congress leaders switched over their loyalties to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), NCP and contested as their candidates. Besides, some others contested as Independents. Asked if Congress would give them another opportunity in party, Manikrao Thakre replied, “There is no space for rebels in the party. At present, MLAs we have are loyal to the party. It is better for Congress that power-hungry people are switching over to other parties.”