P. Chidambaram: Lok Sabha Polls Were Less Than Fair, EWS Quota Dilutes Reservation

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were less than free and less than fair. He backed this argument by saying that hurdles were created by the government by seizing the Congress party's bank accounts.Speaking at India Today Conclave Mumbai 2024, he said he was pleasantly surprised by the results in the Hindi-speaking states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. When asked whether the Congress deliberately misled people that the Constitution was in danger, Chidambaram said: "The BJP will amend the Constitution. They were preparing to. Even after getting 247 seats, they are planning to amend it. The Modi government will not hesitate in taking away reservations."The veteran leader noted that the 103rd amendment, which provides for the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS), is a dilution of reservations. "EWS (Economic Weaker Section) is a dilution of reservation," he said when asked whether any government can do away with reservation.