BJP Accuses Congress and CSDS of Election Meddling

The BJP accuses Congress and the CSDS of colluding against national interests through foreign-funded election meddling. This follows an erroneous post by CSDS’s Sanjay Kumar, alleging voter data manipulation. The BJP claims CSDS manipulates caste-based surveys to undermine social unity and political integrity in India.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday leveled severe accusations against the Indian National Congress and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), accusing them of engaging in activities that compromise national interests. The BJP alleges these entities, linked by foreign funding, are meddling in the country's electoral processes.

The controversy erupted following a controversial post by CSDS's Sanjay Kumar, who shared faulty voter data from Maharashtra assembly elections. The data suggested a significant drop in voter numbers, which was misinterpreted as an inconsistency relative to the upcoming 2024 general elections. Kumar later retracted the data, apologizing for the oversight but the BJP remains unsatisfied.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia condemned the CSDS for allegedly promoting a divisive narrative through biased surveys and foreign-backed funding. He accused the think tank of conducting targeted research focused on Hindu caste dynamics, claiming it sets a dangerous precedent through its manipulation of public opinion and undermining of India's democratic fabric.

(With inputs from agencies.)