Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack against the Election Commission, accusing it of orchestrating electoral fraud. The remarks were made during a ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, in response to a press conference by the Chief Election Commissioner.
Gandhi claimed the Election Commission had moved from clandestine methods to openly manipulating elections. He interpreted the term SIR as the commission’s strategy to steal votes in Bihar. He criticized the commission’s attempts to shield itself from legal actions, referring to modifications in CCTV rules as part of the protection.
During the yatra, Gandhi explained that the purpose was to address public doubts regarding electoral integrity. He highlighted Maharashtra as an example, where the BJP gained an advantage through newly registered voters. He alleged that the Election Commission added numerous voters between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
He pointed out that the BJP benefited from these new voters, whereas the Congress alliance’s vote share remained constant. When the Congress sought details from the Election Commission, including CCTV footage and voter lists, the requests were allegedly denied.
The Congress presented questions to the Election Commission, accusing it of aligning with the BJP. These questions addressed issues about vote discrepancies, registration irregularities, and the timeline of actions. Gandhi said that the answers were unconvincing and lacked substance.
The inquiries covered discrepancies in Maharashtra’s vote count compared to its adult population, multiple voter registrations within a single household, the rapid implementation of SIR in Bihar, and the need for the process despite the flood situation. Gandhi criticized the responses, citing the lack of justification.
Additional concerns raised included the absence of booth videography and the commission’s refusal to provide digital voter lists. The responses offered were considered unsatisfactory.
Gandhi claimed that the Election Commission’s actions violated the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’ and that they were undermining the Constitution. He insisted that the commission stop manipulating votes and fulfill its duty to conduct fair elections and provide transparent voter lists.
He suggested that excluding the Chief Justice from the appointment of election commissioners was a strategic move to ensure the selection of compliant individuals. Gandhi concluded that the commission’s refusal to address the evidence would result in future legal consequences.