EC rejects Rahul Gandhi's claims of 'vote chori' and bias, defends SIR

The Election Commission of India (ECI) held a press conference on Sunday at the National Media Centre, firmly rejecting accusations of bias made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The press conference was convened just hours after Gandhi’s statement in Sasaram, Bihar, where he accused the commission of "vote theft." The ECI's public address was a clear and direct rebuttal, with the commission asserting that it does not discriminate against any political party and treats all with fairness and impartiality.

Rahul Gandhi’s allegations centered on a perceived double standard in the ECI's procedures. He claimed that when he held a press conference on 'vote theft,' the ECI demanded an affidavit from him. However, he alleged that when BJP leaders conducted a press conference on a separate issue a few days earlier, no such affidavit was required, which he presented as evidence of the ECI's partisan behavior. This accusation set the stage for the ECI's formal response.

Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed the media and delivered a strong message regarding the ECI's constitutional duty. He began by reminding everyone of the ECI's role in ensuring free and fair elections. He then said, "As per the Constitution of India, every citizen of India who has attained the age of 18 years must become a voter and must also vote. You all know that, as per the law, every political party is born through registration with the Election Commission. Then how can the Election Commission discriminate among the same political parties? For the Election Commission, all are equal."

Kumar also took the opportunity to defend the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, which has been the subject of the 'vote theft' allegations. He clarified that the SIR was not a unilateral decision by the ECI but was initiated by the demands and requests of all political parties in the state. This statement directly countered the narrative that the revision was a politically motivated exercise designed to benefit one party over others.

To further back up his claim, the Election Commissioner provided details of the process. He explained that 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) had collectively prepared a draft voter list for the revision. Copies of this list were then provided to all political parties for their review. He emphasized a key point: representatives from every single political party involved had signed the list, thereby giving their approval to the process and its outcome.

 In his concluding remarks, Gyanesh Kumar reiterated the ECI's unwavering commitment to its mandate. He asserted that no matter which political party is involved, "the Election Commission will not step back from its constitutional duty."