Rahul Gandhi, representing the Congress party, launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, accusing it of widespread electoral malfeasance. Speaking after a press conference by the Chief Election Commissioner, Gandhi claimed a shift from concealed to overt manipulation of the electoral process.
He specifically criticized the Election Commission’s methods, using the acronym SIR (interpreted as a strategy to steal votes in Bihar). Gandhi highlighted the commission’s alleged protection from legal repercussions, pointing to changes in CCTV laws and the implications of such changes.
During a ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, Gandhi emphasized the need to prevent vote theft, asserting that the public’s doubts regarding election integrity prompted the journey. He cited Maharashtra as an example, where the BJP allegedly gained a significant advantage through the sudden addition of numerous voters between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Gandhi detailed how the BJP seemingly benefited from the influx of new voters, while the Congress alliance’s vote share remained constant. The opposition’s attempts to get information from the Election Commission regarding the new voters, including CCTV footage and voter lists, were purportedly rejected.
The Congress party posed a series of questions to the Election Commission, accusing the commission of mirroring the BJP’s stance. The questions addressed concerns about vote discrepancies, voter registration, and the timing of specific electoral processes. The answers, according to Gandhi, were evasive and provided no concrete justification.
The specific queries encompassed the discrepancy between total votes and the adult population in Maharashtra, the registration of multiple voters within the same household, and the quick implementation of SIR in Bihar. Furthermore, questions were raised regarding the reasons behind the absence of booth videography and why the voter list was not available in a digital, machine-readable format.
The Congress alleged that the commission’s actions undermined the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’ essentially harming the Constitution. The statement demanded that the Election Commission should immediately stop the alleged vote manipulation and ensure fair elections with transparent voter lists.
Gandhi suggested that the removal of the Chief Justice from the process of appointing Election Commissioners by Prime Minister Modi was aimed at ensuring compliant appointments. He concluded that the Election Commission’s failure to address the evidence presented by the opposition would lead to future accountability.