Sunil Tatkare, the National Congress Party (NCP) Maharashtra State President, on Tuesday, 13 October accused the opposition INDIA Bloc of attempting to defame the Central government by raising doubts about the credibility of constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission of India (ECI). Tatkare made the remarks while addressing the media in Mumbai on the recent protests in Delhi and the ongoing Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) controversy.

The EVM Argument: A Selective Concern, Tatkare Alleges

Tatkare pointed to what he described as a pattern of selective scepticism around EVMs. He noted that the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections — which brought the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to power — were conducted on EVMs without any objection from the then-opposition. Questions about the machines, he alleged, only began surfacing after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a majority in 2014 and subsequently retained power.

Tatkare drew a sharper parallel from Maharashtra's own recent electoral history. When the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) performed well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state, EVM integrity went unchallenged. Yet, after the Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the subsequent state assembly elections, criticism resurfaced almost immediately. 'What changed in just four months?' he asked reporters.

On Street Protests and Constitutional Bodies

Tatkare criticised the opposition's preference for street demonstrations over legal recourse, arguing that the judiciary provides established channels — including Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) — through which grievances can be properly adjudicated. He emphasised that political disagreements should not be weaponised to erode the autonomy of constitutional bodies.

Drawing on his own legislative career — 25 years in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and 10 years in the Lok Sabha — Tatkare said he had never witnessed demands of this nature in his entire political life. He also called on the Central government to take cognisance if, as he alleged, external forces were attempting to destabilise the country.

Eknath Shinde Echoes the Charge

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde separately alleged that the opposition's sustained agitations outside the Prime Minister's residence and across Delhi are part of what he described as a dangerous game plan by external forces seeking to weaken India. Shinde asserted that having lost three consecutive general elections against Prime Minister Modi, the opposition has abandoned hope of winning democratic mandates and is instead attempting to foster civil unrest, intimidate the Election Commission, and pressure the Chief Justice of India — all without producing credible evidence, he claimed.

Opposition's Position

The INDIA Bloc has not issued an immediate response to Tuesday's remarks. The alliance has previously maintained that its protests and EVM-related demands are rooted in democratic accountability and transparency, and has framed the agitations as legitimate political dissent rather than institutional subversion. Critics of the ruling coalition argue that questioning electoral processes through legal and public channels is a fundamental democratic right.

What to Watch

The exchanges indicate that the EVM debate — now a recurring flashpoint in Indian electoral politics — is far from settled, and is likely to intensify ahead of any upcoming state polls. How the Election Commission responds to continued pressure from both the ruling alliance and the opposition will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.