Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 18: A day after chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar publicly reprimanded Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Opposition parties launched a coordinated attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of abandoning its constitutional duty and operating in a partisan manner.
In a strongly-worded joint statement, leaders from the Congress, RJD, SP, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP-SP, AAP, and the Left alleged that the ECI had failed to safeguard the principle of free and fair elections, and instead chosen to shield the ruling party from accountability.
“It has now become clear that the ECI is not being led by officers who can ensure a level playing field. Instead of probing allegations of voter fraud, the ECI appears more inclined to intimidate those who challenge the establishment,” the statement said.
The accusations follow CEC Kumar’s stern rebuke of Rahul Gandhi on Sunday during a media briefing. Kumar had demanded a formal affidavit backing Gandhi’s allegations of voter fraud or an apology to the nation, calling the claims unsubstantiated and incendiary.
Opposition parties also criticised the CEC for failing to address the Supreme Court’s August 14 order, which had directed the publication of names and reasons for the 65 lakh voter deletions in Bihar under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). According to them, Kumar offered no explanation for the manner in which the SIR was conducted, describing it as hasty, ad-hoc, and opaque.
They further alleged that Kumar ignored critical questions around the alleged voter fraud in Mahadevapura, a case highlighted by Rahul Gandhi, and that the poll panel had not initiated any formal inquiry despite the seriousness of the charges.
The CEC’s 90-minute press conference, intended to defend the Commission's handling of the Bihar voter roll revision, instead sparked a political firestorm, especially after Gandhi was singled out.
The controversy comes as the Congress leader continues his ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, a 1,300-km march from Sasaram in Bihar, aimed at spotlighting alleged electoral irregularities and rallying public sentiment against what he calls "vote chori" (vote theft).
The Opposition's statement signals a deepening rift between political parties and the constitutional body tasked with overseeing the democratic process. As tensions rise ahead of key state and national elections, the ECI now finds itself in the crosshairs of an escalating political showdown.