BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that the Congress and BRS parties share a "secret understanding" to defend each other in corruption cases, particularly regarding the Delhi liquor scam and the Kaleshwaram project. He claimed that the Congress is deliberately delaying investigations into BRS leaders, while BRS is reciprocating. Kumar also criticized the Congress for its "soft Hindutva" stance and accused it of being a "B-team" for BRS. These allegations highlight the intense political rivalry and accusations of opportunism ahead of elections.
- BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged a "secret understanding" between Congress and BRS.
- He claimed they defend each other in corruption cases like the Delhi liquor scam.
- Kumar accused Congress of delaying investigations into BRS leaders and vice versa.
Opposition parties' booth-level agents are contesting the Election Commission's (EC) claim that no objections were filed regarding electoral roll revisions. They allege that their complaints about discrepancies, such as duplicate entries and deceased voters, were not properly recorded or addressed by the EC. The EC had stated that only 43,123 objections were filed nationwide, but opposition parties claim to have submitted significantly more, which were often rejected or not formally registered. This raises concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.
- Opposition parties' booth-level agents dispute the EC's claim of minimal objections to electoral roll revisions.
- Agents allege that their complaints regarding discrepancies were often not recorded or formally registered.
- The EC reported only 43,123 objections nationwide, a figure contested by opposition parties.
India's welfare system is increasingly adopting a "technocratic calculus," driven by digital initiatives like Aadhaar and DBT, aiming for efficiency and coverage but potentially at the expense of "democratic norms" and "political accountability." This shift, characterized by data-driven algorithms and depoliticized rationality, risks reducing citizens to mere "auditable beneficiaries" and centralizing visibility without corresponding responsibility, as seen with the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). Concerns are raised about declining social sector spending and the "existential crisis" of the RTI regime. The article advocates for "democratic antifragility," empowering states, institutionalizing community-driven impact audits, fostering platform cooperatives, and strengthening offline safeguards with a "right to explanation and appeal" to ensure citizens remain partners in governance.
- India's welfare system is evolving towards a technocratic model, prioritizing efficiency through digital platforms like Aadhaar and DBT.
- This shift raises concerns about the erosion of democratic norms, political accountability, and the potential for citizens to be reduced to data points.
- Social sector spending has declined, and the RTI regime faces an "existential crisis," indicating systemic challenges in transparency and grievance redressal.