Supriya Sule Criticizes Government Over Voting Irregularities and Hindi Imposition
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule launched a scathing attack on the Mahayuti government and the Centre during a press conference, raising questions on electoral transparency, language policy in education, and governance practices. Addressing several controversial developments, Sule criticized the growing opacity in electoral processes and slammed the government’s decision to impose Hindi as a compulsory language in early education.
Concerns Over Election Transparency and Voter Data
Sule voiced serious concerns about the unexplained surge in voter turnout in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ constituency, citing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent tweet questioning a 5–8% sudden increase in voting figures. She stated, “If the Election Commission has invited Rahul Gandhi for discussion, we must welcome it. Democracy thrives on discussion—it brings out the truth.”
She also revealed that 30–35 losing candidates from her party have filed petitions in the High Court, alleging irregularities in voting figures. “These are not baseless accusations. There is verifiable data behind these concerns, and this must be discussed in Parliament,” she demanded.
Warning on Data Deletion
Sule cautioned that electoral data may be deleted within the next 3–4 months, which she described as alarming. “In today’s world of cloud computing, AI, and data centers, why is critical election data being wiped out so quickly?” she questioned, calling for greater data preservation and transparency.
Ward Restructuring and Delayed Municipal Elections
On the issue of ward delimitation for municipal elections, now postponed to October 6, Sule stressed the need for fairness. “This process must be transparent. The Constitution must guide elections, not political convenience. The ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach must eliminate arbitrariness,” she asserted.
She also claimed that her colleagues had already predicted municipal elections might not be held this year, with past press conference concerns now appearing justified.
Strong Objection to Hindi Imposition in Schools
Reacting to the government’s push to make Hindi compulsory from Class 1 to 4, Sule said, “Education is not just a political issue—it’s a foundation of democracy.” She criticized the top-down approach where books are printed and decisions are implemented without consulting educational experts. “There should be no politics in education. All decisions must be evidence-based and expert-led,” she said.
She further raised concerns about the impact on school staffing:
“Reports suggest that Hindi imposition will increase school costs and reduce posts for sports and arts teachers. This is unacceptable—arts and physical education are just as important. I have already sought clarification from Minister Dada Bhuse on this matter,” she added.
“Parents Will Decide, Not the Government”
Sule firmly stated, “The government will not decide what children should learn. That right lies with parents. Forced imposition of language or curriculum is undemocratic.”
Cooperative Elections Mention
On a different note, Sule congratulated the winning panel in the Madegaon-Malegaon Sugar Factory elections, clarifying that while her party does not intervene heavily in cooperative politics, they fully support panels that are democratically elected.