CM Saini Taunts Congress: 'What's Your Excuse on Ballot Paper Now?'
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini challenged Congress with a sharp Hindi jab on X — 'What excuse do you have now for ballot paper?' — reigniting the long-running BJP-Congress battle over Electronic Voting Machines ahead of future elections.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini posted a pointed Hindi taunt at Congress on 29 October 2026 , questioning the party's ballot-paper demand.
The post — 'What excuse do you have now for ballot paper?' — was accompanied by a video, signalling a deliberate political message rather than an offhand remark.
Congress and several opposition parties have demanded a return to ballot papers over alleged EVM vulnerabilities since at least the 2019 general election .
The BJP has consistently defended EVMs as secure and audited, and Saini's post continues that defensive-offensive posture.
The specific trigger prompting the taunt has not been publicly confirmed, but the framing suggests a recent development Saini believes weakens the Congress position.
No public response from Congress or the Election Commission of India had emerged at time of publication.
A single sharp question — and a long-running political battle over voting technology crackled back to life. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini fired a pointed taunt at the Congress on Thursday, 29 October 2026, challenging the opposition party to justify its ballot-paper demand in the face of what he framed as changed circumstances.
Posting in Hindi on X, Saini wrote: 'Haan bhai Congressiyon! Ab ballot paper par kya bahana hai?' — 'Yes, dear Congress people! What excuse do you have now for ballot paper?' The rhetorical jab was paired with a video, amplifying the provocation beyond a simple text post.
The EVM Debate Congress Cannot Escape
The question lands in well-worn but still live territory. For nearly a decade, the Indian National Congress and several other opposition parties have demanded a return to ballot papers, alleging that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are vulnerable to manipulation. The demand gained particular heat ahead of the 2019 and 2024 general elections, when Congress leaders argued that results could not be trusted without a verifiable paper trail beyond the existing Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system.
The BJP, for its part, has consistently defended EVMs as tamper-proof, efficient, and independently audited by the Election Commission of India. Saini's post slots directly into that established pattern — using Congress's own prior argument as a rhetorical weapon to suggest the opposition's credibility on the issue is now in question.
Why the Timing of This Jab Matters
The specific trigger Saini alludes to cannot be independently confirmed, but the combative framing — 'what excuse do you have now' — signals he believes something recent has undercut the Congress position. Whether that is an election result, a court ruling, or a fresh development in the EVM debate, the post is clearly designed to put Congress on the defensive before that answer is supplied.
That rhetorical structure — force the opponent to explain themselves publicly — is a tested political move. It keeps the BJP's EVM-defence narrative dominant while making Congress respond rather than attack.
Congress leaders and the Election Commission have not publicly responded to this specific post. If they do, the exchange could sharpen the contours of India's voting-technology debate heading into the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
Flip the burden of proof onto the opposition. By asking 'what excuse do you have now,' he implicitly claims that a recent development has invalidated Congress's long-standing objection — a frame that forces Congress to either concede ground or re-litigate the entire EVM debate on BJP's terms. The EVM controversy has historically spiked around elections and court hearings, suggesting this could be a pre-emptive strike ahead of upcoming polls. If Congress does not respond forcefully, the silence itself becomes part of the BJP's narrative.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nayab Singh Saini taunting Congress about ballot paper?
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini challenged Congress on 29 October 2026, asking what justification the party now has for demanding ballot papers instead of EVMs — implying a recent development has undermined the opposition's long-standing argument.
What is the Congress demand on ballot paper and EVMs?
The Indian National Congress and several opposition parties have repeatedly demanded a return to ballot papers, alleging that Electronic Voting Machines can be manipulated. The demand has been raised prominently ahead of the 2019 and 2024 general elections.
What is BJP's position on EVMs?
The BJP has consistently defended Electronic Voting Machines as tamper-proof, efficient, and independently verified by the Election Commission of India, rejecting opposition calls for ballot papers.
Has the Election Commission responded to BJP vs Congress EVM row?
The Election Commission of India has previously defended EVMs against opposition allegations, but had not publicly responded to Saini's specific 29 October 2026 post at the time of publication.
What happens if India returns to ballot paper voting?
A full return to ballot papers would require a major overhaul of India's election infrastructure. The Election Commission has shown no indication of abandoning EVMs, though a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system is already in place as a verification mechanism.
