Amidst accusations of “vote theft” from the opposition during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the pre-poll voter list in Bihar, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has issued a firm rebuttal. Kumar stated that the allegations were “baseless” and would not impact the Election Commission or the voters. The remarks were made at the Commission’s first press conference after the completion of the SIR process in Bihar.
Kumar addressed the concerns regarding vote rigging raised by opposition parties during the SIR process and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He noted instances of complaints about double voting, but added that no concrete evidence was provided. He emphasized that the Election Commission operates impartially and without fear, standing strong with all sections of society. Kumar clarified that the ECI is not aligned with any political party and will fulfill its constitutional responsibilities without favoritism. He underscored that all parties are treated equally and the Commission will not be deterred from its duties.
Furthermore, Kumar highlighted the importance of every eligible Indian citizen, aged 18 and above, participating in the electoral process. This comes in the wake of allegations by opposition figures, including Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Election Commission of involvement in voter fraud, supposedly favoring the BJP. Gandhi claimed to have proof and asserted that elections were being manipulated. He cited the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka as an example of voter theft, claiming that the Election Commission was collaborating with the BJP, which, according to him, allowed Narendra Modi to secure a third term as Prime Minister.