Congress Chief Kharge Accuses BJP of ‘Power Grab’ After Alleged Vote Fraud

Fast Summary:

• Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the BJP for alleged “government theft” through three proposed bills that could remove elected officials who face extended arrests.
• The bills, introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah and referred too a Joint Parliamentary Committee, include the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025, Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025.
• The bills propose that PMs, CMs, or Ministers lose their positions if detained for over 30 days for crimes punishable by five years’ imprisonment or more.
• Kharge claimed these measures would “destabilize democracy” with arrest as a political weapon. He also critiqued BJP’s alleged misuse of investigative agencies citing low conviction rates in ED cases against opposition leaders, including former Chief Ministers and Ministers arrested earlier.
• Rahul Gandhi attended the Congress meeting amidst his ongoing Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar; he described it as vital preparation to fight for democratic rights.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The controversy surrounding these legislative proposals underscores significant questions about judicial interventions in politics and their implications for India’s democratic framework. If implemented without safeguards against misuse by investigative agencies, such provisions could blur lines between accountability mechanisms and political strategies aimed at curbing dissent within opposition states-raising concerns about institutional neutrality.

Additionally, Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks refocus public attention on governance accountability but risk party-specific framing amid heightened tensions between ruling coalitions versus opposition factions nationwide ahead of upcoming elections.

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