Opposition's 'vote chori' claims serve foreign agenda, says Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan

'For them, there's one standard of justice when they win and another when they lose. This duplicitous approach spans from national to state levels,' he observed.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has accused opposition parties of serving a "foreign agenda" while alleging electoral fraud, stating that their claims of "vote chori" (vote theft) should be viewed as part of international conspiracies against India.

Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena is the ruling NDA coalition partner.

Speaking at his Independence Day address in Kakinada on Friday, Pawan Kalyan criticised the opposition's selective approach to electoral integrity. "Every time opposition leaders lose at the national level, they campaign claiming 'vote chori.' When they win, they suddenly see no vote theft. When they were victorious, we never made such allegations anywhere," he said.

Referring to the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections where the coalition government secured 164 assembly seats, Pawan Kalyan noted the opposition's claims of EVM discrepancies. "For them, there's one standard of justice when they win and another when they lose. This duplicitous approach spans from national to state levels," he said.

The deputy chief minister framed the opposition's electoral complaints within a broader national security context. "Creating internal instability in our country is the strategy of enemy nations. Their words should be seen as part of international conspiracies. To breach a fort, it's easier to attack when someone inside opens the door rather than mounting an assault from outside. Foreign powers seek internal enemies who will cooperate with them and provide intelligence. These opposition voices are carrying the agenda of foreign powers, and people should take note of this," he added.

Kalyan also addressed India's secular credentials, tracing the country's commitment to religious harmony from partition to recent events like Operation Sindoor. "Despite ongoing religious violence since partition, India has never abandoned its secular approach. After independence, regardless of religious affiliation, India has moved forward with secularism while respecting sovereignty."

He cited the elevation of leaders like Dr. Abdul Kalam to India's highest offices as evidence of this commitment. "Such inclusive practices don't exist in Pakistan, where a Hindu cricketer would be eliminated and no strong Hindu leader is visible. Although we separated into two nations on religious grounds, and despite India's Hindu majority, ours is a culture that respects and advances people of all faiths. Secularism is inherent in Indian culture itself outsiders and Europeans need not teach us this principle," Kalyan said.

Pawan Kalyan also outlined his vision for sustained governance and development. He expressed hope that the NDA coalition would govern Andhra Pradesh for 15 years to ensure stability and implement the promised "Super Six" initiatives.

Kalyan stressed the critical importance of law and order for economic development. "Investment flows require strong law and order. Without it, investors stay away," he said citing Uttar Pradesh's transformation under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as a model.

"Before Adityanath's tenure, UP was considered an unruly state where nobody dared invest. After establishing strong law and order, the state attracted investments worth Rs 15 lakh crores. This demonstrates how crucial law and order is for economic growth," he noted.

Kalyan reiterated his commitment to public service over personal ambition. "I wish our coalition government continues for a decade and a half to provide stable governance to the people. I have no desire to merely occupy positions for personal enjoyment," he added.