Launching a blistering political attack from the Uttar Pradesh capital, Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharwal took direct aim at the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and the top Congress leadership. Addressing political developments, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader alleged that the key leadership of the Congress party consists of foreigners, further claiming that their voter base relies heavily on illegal infiltrators. Strongly backing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Kharwal asserted that the Election Commission of India has undertaken decisive measures to purge bogus and fraudulent entries from national electoral rolls, which has unsettled the opposition party. Pointing to past controversies, she stated that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi obtained Indian citizenship 15 years after arriving in the country and had voted in the 1980 elections, accusing the party of routinely defaming constitutional institutions whenever it faces an electoral setback.

Defending the Election Commission: Clashes Over Constitutional Literacy and Reform Agendas

Mayor Kharwal strongly criticized the demonstrations and rhetoric directed against the poll panel, remarking that while Rahul Gandhi publicly carries a copy of the Constitution in his hand, he appears unaware of what is inscribed on its very opening page. She contended that rather than shouldering public responsibility, the Congress leadership persistently avoids institutional accountability. Stressing that the nationwide purification of electoral rolls is intended to safeguard democratic integrity, Kharwal noted that opposing decisive crackdowns on fraudulent voting exposes the political vulnerabilities of the opposition, which has made targeting independent constitutional offices a habitual defense mechanism.

Defeat Frustration and Institutional Integrity: Calling Out Attacks on EVMs and CEC Decisions

The Lucknow Mayor further highlighted that consecutive electoral defeats have left the Congress leadership deeply frustrated, driving them to manufacture doubts around India's democratic infrastructure. Referring to institutional mechanisms, Kharwal underscored the joint statement issued on September 26 following a high-level meeting between Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners, which reiterated that all vital decisions, including those regarding the Special Summary Revision (SIR), are made through complete consensus. Despite transparent protocols, she observed, opposition factions continue to question the neutrality of the Election Commission, echoing past patterns where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were scapegoated after poll defeats. Emphasizing that political disagreements must not degenerate into malicious campaigns against democratic pillars, Kharwal urged the Congress to abandon baseless allegations and acknowledge ground electoral realities.