We Don't Steal Votes, We Win People's Hearts: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said the BJP does not steal votes but wins the hearts of the people. He made the remarks while participating in a march titled ‘Save Democracy, Drive Out Anarchy’ in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. During the event, he criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh. Sarma claimed that the Congress had faced defeats not only in elections conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) but also in recent Legislative Council elections held through ballot papers in several states. He questioned the Congress for protesting against EVMs despite having come to power in Himachal Pradesh through elections conducted using the same voting system.

Sarma further alleged that Congress leaders accepted EVM results when the party won Assembly elections in Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh but questioned the Election Commission and electoral process whenever the BJP emerged victorious. He stressed the need for accurate electoral rolls to protect the integrity of Indian democracy. Accusing the Congress of using political developments in Bangladesh and Nepal to create instability in India, he said governments in the country could only be changed through people's votes, not political threats or street protests. He also accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of failing to fulfil its promise of providing five lakh jobs to young people within five years.