Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 11 (ANI): After Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of doing 'chunav chori (election theft)' in Bihar, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday took a dig at the latter and said that Rahul's situation today is akin to the saying, 'blaming the stage for not knowing how to dance.'

In a post on X, Pradhan dismissed Congress' 'Sanvidhan Bachao' rally in Odisha, calling it an examply of 'political tourism'.

'The 'Sanvidhan Bachao' rally organised by Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, was, in reality, yet another political tourism stunt by the Congress prince,' he said.

https://x.com/dpradhanbjp/status/1943613028655677689

'This is not about 'saving the constitution' but rather about saving Rahul Gandhi and Congress. The unwavering trust of the people in the public-welfare-oriented BJP government in Odisha is troubling the Congress. Congress has no presence or existence in Odisha; the poor, Dalits, tribals, farmers, and labourers of Odisha rejected Congress decades ago. In such a scenario, Rahul Gandhi's talk about the welfare of Odisha's poor is nothing but deception,' Dharmendra Pradhan said.

The Union Minister alleged that the history of Congress has always been one of neglecting the rights of the poor and marginalised sections.

'The funds sent from Delhi by Congress governments were either looted by middlemen or diverted to their favoured vote banks at the expense of the rights of SC, ST, and backwards communities. To put it plainly, the rights of the poor and the land of tribals are secure only as long as Congress is not in power,' Pradhan said.

Criticising the Congress leadership for blaming democratic institutions, Pradhan said, 'Congress has faced crushing defeats in states like Maharashtra and Haryana, after which Rahul Gandhi and Kharge are blaming the Election Commission and democratic institutions for their losses. It is astonishing that the Congress party, which once throttled democracy and trampled the constitution by imposing an Emergency on the country, is now preaching about saving the constitution.'

'Rahul Gandhi's situation today is akin to the saying, 'Naach na jaane Angad tedha (blaming the stage for not knowing how to dance).' After repeated electoral defeats, and anticipating another loss in the upcoming Bihar elections, the Congress party has come up with a new gimmick of 'vote theft.' However, the people of Odisha and the nation have now recognized every trick and deceit of Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Going forward, the public will continue to give a befitting reply to such anti-people and anti-constitution elements in every election.'

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while addressing the Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh in Bhubaneswar, levelled strong allegations against the Election Commission of India.

Rahul Gandhi said that ECI is 'working as a BJP wing' and alleged that similar attempts to 'steal election' are being made in Bihar just like they were made in Maharashtra.

'BJP is attacking the constitution. Yesterday I was in Bihar. Just like 'chunav chori' was done in Maharashtra, similar attempts are being made to do 'chunav chori' in Bihar. EC has hatched a new conspiracy for 'chunav chori'. EC is working as a BJP wing, it is not doing its own job,' Rahul Gandhi said. (ANI)