Congress Leader Accuses Election Commission of Strategic Bias in Poll Schedule
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Monday launched a sharp criticism against the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of deliberate bias. He alleged that the assembly election schedule was strategically engineered to undermine the Congress party by restricting its campaign window and limiting the movement of its key leaders.
Timing of First Phase Polls Questioned
Venugopal specifically criticized the EC's decision to hold the first phase of polls on April 9 in states where the Congress party is a prominent political force. "There seems to be no urgency as results will be announced only on May 4," he told reporters in New Delhi, questioning the rationale behind the early polling dates.
According to the election schedule announced in New Delhi on Sunday, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will go to polls in this initial phase. Venugopal pointed out that after the last date for withdrawal of nominations, candidates will get hardly 10 days for full-fledged campaigning as it coincides with Holy Week.
Impact on Campaigning During Holy Week
"Holy Week is of great significance for Keralites and election work is not possible on days like Good Friday, especially in Christian-dominated areas," he emphasized. The Congress leader noted that even if the poll date had been scheduled after Holy Week and Vishu festivities in the state, it would not have made much difference to the overall timeline.
He further highlighted that elections will be held in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in the second and third phases, respectively, suggesting a pattern in the scheduling.
Allegations of Systematic Approach
"EC's approach is very clear. Election date has been announced with the objective of cutting short campaigning of candidates and limiting Congress leaders who lead the campaign," Venugopal alleged. He claimed that a similar approach was evident during assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra as well.
"So, there is no doubt that EC's approach is very mysterious," the Congress leader said, adding that he does not know whether the state government has any role in it. Despite these allegations, Venugopal made it clear that the early election date would not impact the poll prospects of the Congress party, which he said is fully prepared for the much-awaited assembly polls.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between political parties and election authorities regarding the timing and logistics of electoral processes, particularly in states with significant religious observances that intersect with campaign periods.
