This was the first press conference by the constitutional body after the SIR exercise in Bihar, during which Opposition leaders – led by Rahul Gandhi – accused the ECI of manipulating electoral rolls, repeating similar allegations raised during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addresses a press conference, in New Delhi. PIC/PTI
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday dismissed the Opposition’s allegations of "vote theft" during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, asserting that neither the Election Commission of India (ECI) nor the voters were "afraid" of such "false" claims, ANI reported.
This was the first press conference by the constitutional body after the SIR exercise in Bihar, during which Opposition leaders – led by Rahul Gandhi – accused the ECI of manipulating electoral rolls, repeating similar allegations raised during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Kumar said that though some voters had alleged instances of double voting, none of them could provide proof, ANI reported.
"Some voters alleged double voting. When asked for proof, no answer was given. Neither the Election Commission nor any voter is afraid of such false allegations," CEC Kumar told reporters.
He underlined that the Election Commission "stood like a rock" with every section of society without any discrimination, ANI reported.
"When politics is being done by targeting the voters of India by keeping a gun on the shoulder of the Election Commission, today the Election Commission wants to make it clear to everyone that it fearlessly stood like a rock with all the voters of all sections and all religions — including the poor, rich, elderly, women, youth — without any discrimination," the CEC added.
He further emphasised that the poll body does not belong to any political party and would never step back from its "constitutional duty".
"For the Election Commission, there is neither any opposition nor any party. All are equal. No matter who belongs to any political party, the Election Commission will not step back from its constitutional duty," Kumar said.
He reiterated that every eligible Indian must register and cast their vote.
"As per the Constitution of India, every citizen 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?," he remarked.
Earlier, on August 1, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had alleged large-scale voter fraud, accusing the ECI of direct involvement.
Gandhi had said, "Votes are being stolen. We have open-and-shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in this vote theft. And I'm not saying this lightly, I'm speaking with 100% proof. And when we release it (proof), the entire country will come to know that the Election Commission is enabling vote theft. And who are they doing it for? They're doing it for the BJP."
On August 7, Gandhi presented what he claimed was Congress’ research on the Mahadevapura Assembly seat in Karnataka, alleging "vote chori" (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes. He accused the ECI of "collusion" with the BJP, which, according to him, helped Prime Minister Narendra Modi secure a third term.
He also alleged that the elections were "choreographed".
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP fell short of a majority, winning 240 seats out of 543. However, the NDA, led by PM Modi, formed the government with 293 seats, crossing the halfway mark.
(With ANI inputs)
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