'No Moral Right to Continue': Congress MP Slams CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav accuses CEC Gyanesh Kumar of behaving like a BJP worker, sparking a major political row over electoral transparency.
In a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India, Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav has accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of losing his impartiality. Yadav claimed that the CEC has "no moral right" to remain in his position, alleging that his conduct has mirrored that of a "Bharatiya Janata Party worker" rather than an independent constitutional authority.
Allegations of Vote Manipulation
The controversy erupted as opposition parties intensified their scrutiny of the poll body's functioning, particularly concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Speaking to ANI, the Congress MP expressed deep concerns over the integrity of the democratic process.
"Gyanesh Kumar, the chief election commissioner, has no moral right to continue as a commissioner," Yadav stated. He further alleged that the sanctity of the ballot is at risk, noting, "We have seen the way the votes have been manipulated and vote chori has been done... These kinds of practices should not be done in a democratic and autonomous body."
BJP Defends Election Commission
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit back at these accusations. N Ramchander Rao, the BJP Telangana State President, defended the Election Commission and accused the Congress of a calculated attempt to sow distrust in democratic institutions.
Rao argued that the Election Commission and its members had already provided clarity on various issues. He suggested that the Congress and its allies are attempting to mislead the public and defame the poll body despite previous legal clarifications from the Supreme Court.
The Root of the Controversy: Internal Dissent?
The political heat has been fueled by recent reports suggesting internal friction within the Election Commission. An Indian Express report highlighted that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had reportedly raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a ten-month period.
These reported objections allegedly touched upon critical procedural matters, including:
- Decisions regarding Form 6.
- Procedures related to voter deletions.
- Access to electoral-roll databases.
While the opposition views these as signs of institutional dissent, the Election Commission has dismissed such interpretations. The poll body maintained that these were standard operational queries and suggestions raised during the draft stage of administrative processes. The Commission emphasized that all final decisions, including those regarding the SIR, were made unanimously by all three commissioners.
INDIA Bloc Demands Transparency
The controversy has unified the INDIA bloc, which held a high-level meeting in the national capital on Wednesday. The meeting saw participation from a wide array of political forces, including the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD, and various Left parties.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been vocal in his demands, calling for an immediate rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Kharge stressed the need for greater transparency in electoral rolls and absolute accountability from the Election Commission, asserting that "the ballot belongs to the people."