New Delhi, August 18 — The Opposition’s confrontation with the Election Commission of India (ECI) escalated sharply on Monday, as leaders from the INDIA bloc accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of acting in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The criticism centers around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly in Bihar, which opposition leaders claim is being used to manipulate voter lists and “steal elections.”
At a joint press conference held at the Constitution Club, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi stated, “We were searching for the Chief Election Commissioner, but found a new BJP spokesperson.” He alleged that the EC’s recent press briefing raised questions about opposition parties while remaining silent on critical issues such as the addition of 70 lakh voters between the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections and irregularities in Bihar’s SIR process.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra called the EC’s conduct a “shameful display of puppetry,” accusing the CEC of attacking the Opposition instead of maintaining neutrality. She demanded accountability for alleged fraudulent voter lists and unresolved issues like duplicate EPIC cards flagged by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav also criticized the EC’s dismissal of opposition complaints as baseless. He cited the removal of 18,000 voters from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh in 2022, for which affidavits were submitted but no action was taken.
The controversy was further fueled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who, during his ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, accused the EC of colluding with the BJP to carry out “vote chori” (vote theft) under the guise of SIR. Gandhi claimed that the EC had declared living voters dead and removed names of those who had voted in previous elections. He also alleged that the Modi government had amended laws in 2023 to shield election commissioners from legal scrutiny.
In response, the BJP defended the EC, calling the opposition’s allegations “baseless” and “reckless.” BJP spokespersons emphasized the Commission’s constitutional integrity and accused Rahul Gandhi of leading a campaign to undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
The EC, led by Gyanesh Kumar, held its first press conference since his appointment, denying all allegations and asserting its commitment to impartiality. Kumar challenged Gandhi to submit a sworn affidavit or withdraw his claims, stating, “The EC stands like a rock with voters. No matter which political party someone belongs to, the Commission will not shy away from its constitutional duty”.
With Bihar Assembly elections approaching, the political stakes are high. The INDIA bloc is reportedly considering an impeachment motion against the CEC, marking a rare and serious escalation in the standoff between the Opposition and the poll body.
