Kolkata, April 26 -- Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday flagged concerns over what he described as threats to democratic institutions and electoral transparency, while also attributing governance failures as a key factor behind the BJP's growing political space in West Bengal.
Addressing a Press conference at the Press Club, Kolkata, the former Rajasthan Chief Minister alleged that democratic values in the country are under strain. He expressed apprehension over what he termed a systematic weakening of institutions, claiming that freedom of speech is increasingly being curtailed.
According to him, journalists, opposition leaders, and even elected representatives are facing constraints in expressing dissent, leading to a climate...