Congress to launch national movement against electoral irregularities
New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has alleged that the integrity of the electoral process in India has been "severely compromised" due to the partisan functioning of the Election Commission (EC). During a meeting held at the AICC headquarters on November 29, 2024, the CWC adopted a resolution to launch a national movement to address public concerns regarding the fairness of elections.
The resolution asserted that "free and fair elections," a constitutional mandate, are under threat. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in his opening remarks, criticised electronic voting machines (EVMs), suggesting they have made the election process "suspect." He emphasised the need for "tough decisions" to address internal weaknesses and factionalism within the party.
Veteran leader Digvijaya Singh raised concerns about EVMs, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra proposed reverting to ballot papers. Abhishek Singhvi advocated for 100% Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) implementation. Rahul Gandhi urged party members to adopt a firm stand on issues like EVMs, inflation, unemployment, and allegations against the Adani Group.
Additionally, the CWC announced the formation of internal committees to analyse the party's recent electoral setbacks. Leaders like Ajay Maken and Ramesh Chennithala took responsibility for the party's poor performance in Haryana and Maharashtra, respectively.
Addressing factionalism, Kharge stated that internal disputes and public statements against fellow leaders had significantly weakened the party. He emphasised the need for a unified front and micro-level communication to counter misinformation campaigns by political rivals.
He also pointed out that national issues alone are insufficient to win state elections, calling for a stronger organisational structure and timely decision-making. "Our preparation must be robust from the beginning until the counting of votes," he remarked.
The party announced an extended CWC meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka, to commemorate the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi becoming Congress president. The resolution reaffirmed the Congress’ commitment to addressing issues like unemployment, inflation, and economic inequality.
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Statewide ban on IV Ringer Lactate usage: Dinesh Gundu Rao
Bengaluru: In response to the deaths of postnatal women at Ballari District Hospital, the Karnataka government has temporarily suspended the use of IV Ringer Lactate solution across the state as a precautionary measure, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on Saturday.
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, the minister explained that doubts about the quality of the IV solution had arisen, prompting the decision. He clarified that Ringer Lactate, along with glucose solutions, has been routinely used in hospitals for years. However, out of the 192 batches supplied by the Karnataka State Drugs Logistics and Warehousing Society, concerns were raised regarding two specific batches.
"In light of these concerns, we stopped the use of all 192 batches as a precaution. Following this, the supplying company obtained a High Court order for testing, and the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) conducted an analysis. The CDL report confirmed the usability of the solution, allowing the state to form a technical committee to review and permit the use of certain batches that met quality standards. Despite this, doubts have surfaced specifically at Ballari District Hospital," the minister stated.
To address these concerns, the batches supplied to Ballari Hospital have been sent for anaerobic testing to determine whether the IV solution contributed to the deaths. The test results are expected within a week, after which a final decision on the use of IV Ringer Lactate will be made.
"Until then, we have issued directives to hospitals statewide to suspend the use of IV Ringer Lactate. Every life is important to us, and precautionary measures are essential when suspicions arise," Gundu Rao emphasised.
