Fri Nov 29 13:48:30 UTC 2024: ## Congress Leadership Blames EVMs, Internal Rift for Electoral Setbacks; Vows Reforms

**NEW DELHI** – Following the Congress party’s disappointing performance in the recent Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections, party president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Friday. Kharge acknowledged the party’s defeats and called for significant organizational restructuring and a renewed focus on discipline.

Addressing the CWC, Kharge pointed to internal bickering and a lack of unity as major contributing factors to the losses. He stressed the need for party leaders to refrain from publicly criticizing each other, emphasizing that internal divisions significantly hamper electoral prospects. “Unless we fight elections unitedly and stop making statements against each other, how will we be able to defeat our opponents?” he said.

Kharge also expressed concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, suggesting that the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) has cast doubt on the fairness of elections and urged the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls.

The Congress chief outlined a plan to revamp the party from the grassroots level up to the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the party’s central decision-making body. This includes identifying and addressing shortcomings in the party’s organizational structure and strategies. He highlighted the need to improve communication strategies to counter opposition propaganda and misinformation. “We will have to strengthen our organisation up to the booth level,” he stated.

While acknowledging the positive atmosphere surrounding the Congress party during the elections, Kharge admitted that this alone wasn’t enough for victory. He emphasized the importance of translating favorable public sentiment into tangible electoral results.

Despite the setbacks, Kharge reaffirmed the party’s commitment to addressing critical issues like unemployment, inflation, and economic inequality, as well as advocating for a caste census. He called for immediate action to prepare for future elections and urged party workers to meticulously scrutinize electoral rolls. The meeting was attended by key figures including former party president Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh.

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