New Delhi: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday criticised Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Election Commission’s interim decision concerning rival Trinamool Congress factions ahead of the West Bengal Assembly bypolls. The Election Commission has barred the two rival factions from using the original All India Trinamool Congress name and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol for the bypolls, and allotted separate interim names and symbols to the groups.
Singh alleged that Gandhi simply repeats what is given to him and questioned his understanding of the Congress party’s history. He also referred to various splits in the Congress while responding to Gandhi’s criticism of the Election Commission.
Giriraj Singh Questions Congress’ History
“Whatever is written and given to Rahul Gandhi, he speaks it out, just like a robot speaks out whatever is fed into it,” Singh said, while also referring to Gandhi as “Rahul Robot”.
Singh then questioned how many times the Congress had split historically, citing different factions including Congress (O) and Congress (I), among others.
Rahul Gandhi Criticises EC Over TMC Symbol Decision
Gandhi had criticised the Election Commission’s interim decision over the TMC name and symbol, alleging that the same pattern had been followed in earlier disputes involving the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party.
“First Shiv Sena, then NCP, and now Trinamool Congress,” Gandhi said in a post on X, alleging that the BJP and the Election Commission were working together to split opposition parties and take away their election symbols. These are Gandhi’s allegations, and the Election Commission’s interim order concerns the competing claims of rival TMC factions.
BJP Leaders Step Up Criticism Of Congress
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav also criticised the Congress over Gandhi’s remarks. He alleged that the Congress had a history of breaking political parties and accused it of joining hands with forces he claimed were acting against the country’s interests.
The exchange comes amid the ongoing dispute between rival TMC factions over the party’s name and election symbol ahead of the West Bengal Assembly bypolls. The Election Commission has allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘football player’ symbol, while the rival faction has been allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘envelope’ symbol for the bypolls.