Rahul Gandhi, a prominent figure in the Congress party, has accused the Election Commission of India of participating in electoral theft and manipulation. He made these remarks during a ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, responding to a press conference by the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Gandhi claimed the Election Commission has shifted from previously concealed tactics to openly engaging in electoral malpractices. He presented a critical interpretation of the acronym SIR, suggesting it represents a strategy employed by the Election Commission to steal votes from the citizens of Bihar.
He highlighted the Election Commission’s alleged insulation from legal challenges, citing changes to CCTV regulations. Gandhi questioned the rationale behind these changes and criticized the Election Commission’s lack of accountability.
Gandhi underscored the purpose of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra,’ which he said was launched due to the public’s growing suspicions of electoral fraud. He pointed to the discrepancy in Maharashtra, where the BJP secured victory in the Lok Sabha elections, but after four months, the BJP also won the assembly elections. Gandhi claimed that the Election Commission magically added a significant number of new voters between the two election cycles.
He indicated that the BJP’s success coincided with the inclusion of new voters, while the Congress alliance maintained its voting strength. Gandhi further alleged that the Election Commission provided no satisfactory responses when questioned about the newly registered voters, denying access to crucial information, such as CCTV footage and electronic voter lists.
Gandhi stated that the Chief Election Commissioner’s press conference offered a biased perspective, echoing the language of the BJP. He accused the Election Commission of blatant vote theft and an arrogant approach to addressing concerns.
Gandhi elaborated on a series of inquiries that the Congress party put to the Election Commission, along with the commission’s alleged responses. These included questions concerning the disparity between the total votes and the adult population in Maharashtra, the multiple registrations within the same household, and the timing of the SIR in Bihar. Gandhi criticized the Election Commission’s responses as evasive and lacking in substance.
He further criticized the Election Commission’s inability to conduct booth videography, suggesting a violation of privacy. He also questioned the commission’s acceptance of ‘zero-numbered’ houses and its stance against digital voter lists.
Gandhi asserted that the Election Commission’s actions defied the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’ and the Congress accused the commission of harming the Constitution. The Congress statement called on the Election Commission to end the alleged manipulation and uphold its duty of ensuring fair elections and transparent voter lists.
Gandhi suggested that the exclusion of the Chief Justice from the appointment process was meant to enable the selection of compliant election commissioners. He concluded that the commission’s failure to address the accusations would inevitably lead to legal consequences.
