Agartala, November 24, 2025: Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Asish Kumar Saha on Monday strongly criticized the statement issued on November 19 by 272 former officials and so-called prominent citizens, alleging that it mirrors the propaganda of the ruling party and raises serious questions about the credibility of India’s electoral process.
“The statement signed by 272 so-called prominent citizens who held important government positions at different times has caught the attention of a large number of people in the country. Questions and doubts have been raised in the minds of the countrymen about the script of the statement, as well as the purpose of circulating it at this time,” Saha said.
He accused the ruling party and its propaganda machinery of distorting facts for over a decade. “For more than 11 years, the current ruling party, their most important political guardians, or their propaganda groups have been hiding crimes they committed. The statement circulated on November 19 is nothing but a copy of government media, friendly corporate-run media, IT Cell, and WhatsApp University propaganda,” he alleged.
Saha emphasized that the concerns highlighted in the statement—such as accurate voter lists, secure voting systems, and measures against black money and communal violence—are indeed vital. However, he argued that the credibility of elections since 2014 has already been compromised.
“Most of the elections held in the country in the later days of 2014 were farcical, which the countrymen have already come to know,” he said, pointing to alleged irregularities including inflated voter rolls, obstruction of voting, and collusion between the Election Commission and police.
He further accused the Election Commission of introducing the Swachh Voter List (SIR program) as a legal cover for fraudulent practices, beginning with Bihar. “Bihar election results are not in line with the current situation in Bihar, nor with the trend of the country’s election results so far. It has not gained trust from most of the people of the country, not even from most of the RSS BJP,” Saha remarked.
Citing official figures, Saha questioned discrepancies in Bihar’s voter turnout.
“According to the Election Commission’s data, 67 percent of the total voters in Bihar voted, out of 7 crore 42 lakh, 67 percent is 4 crore 97 lakh. And this Commission itself has said that the total votes counted were 7 crore 45 lakh. Where did these 2 crore 48 lakh votes come from?” he asked.
He also highlighted the Supreme Court’s order suspending 65 lakh EPIC cards and the unexplained addition of 21 lakh new voters under the SIR program. “What are their identities? Where did they come from?” Saha questioned.
The TPCC President criticized the 272 signatories for their silence during critical national crises, including the Pulwama attack and recent terrorist incidents. “Not a single one of these 272 people was seen expressing any condemnation or even deep sorrow over the Pulwama attack or the Jaish-e-Mohammed car bombing in Delhi on November 10,” he said.
On behalf of the Pradesh Congress, Saha condemned both the Election Commission and the 272 signatories. “Along with the Modi-Shah Election Commission, the 272 people who made the statement deserve the hatred and condemnation of the general public of the country,” he declared.
He concluded with a call for democratic resistance: “I hope that the people of a large democratic country like India will not accept or wait for this for much longer and will take up the responsibility of protecting the country’s democracy and constitution on their own shoulders. No force can resist this.”
