Bandi Sanjay Challenges Congress to Contest Elections Again Using Ballot Papers in Four States

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar challenged the Congress over its criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), asking the party to have the Congress governments in Telangana, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala resign and seek fresh mandates through ballot papers. Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, he said the Congress should accept the challenge if it genuinely has doubts about the EVM-based electoral process. He also defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stating that the Election Commission is an independent constitutional institution and that the CEC has no connection with the BJP. His remarks came amid an ongoing political debate over EVMs and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Bandi Sanjay also condemned the alleged attack at the Santoshi Mata Temple in Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, and demanded strict action against those responsible. Police have registered a case and are investigating after a man allegedly entered the temple and attacked the priest and the deity’s idol with sticks. Sanjay alleged that the state government was not taking adequate steps to protect temples and warned that failure to act firmly could lead to public anger. He also said Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposed Telangana visit was postponed due to unavoidable reasons.