Opposition Targets Election Commission Over Reported Dissent, Congress Raises ‘Vote Chori’ Allegation
In Short
Opposition parties have stepped up criticism of the Election Commission following a report that two Election Commissioners raised objections to several decisions. The EC says all final decisions were unanimous.
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Opposition Targets Election Commission Over Reported Dissent, Congress Raises ‘Vote Chori’ Allegation
A fresh political confrontation has emerged over the functioning of the Election Commission of India after an Indian Express report claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections to several decisions concerning electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
According to the report, the two commissioners recorded objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period, including four instances on a single day. The reported concerns involved voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, electoral-roll databases and related procedures.
The report has prompted sharp reactions from Congress and several other Opposition parties, with leaders questioning the functioning of the poll panel and calling for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rahul Gandhi Raises ‘Vote Chori’ Charge
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reacted strongly to the report, alleging that the issue amounted to an attack on India's constitutional system.
In a post on X, Gandhi described “vote chori” as a crime against Indian citizens and a direct attack on the Constitution. He also shared a video in which he addressed the Election Commission and its officials, alleging that their actions were wrong.
These are Gandhi's political allegations and have not been established as facts by the report cited in the dispute.
Congress Leaders Question Role Of CEC
Other Congress leaders also criticised the Election Commission following the report.
Congress MP Manish Tewari referred to the possibility of an “invisible hand” influencing the functioning of the poll panel, while Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the reported developments as a serious issue and questioned whether the Election Commission was functioning independently.
Tewari said that, if the reported facts were accurate, the objections raised by the two commissioners would warrant serious examination of the Commission's decision-making process.
Opposition Leaders Seek Action Against Gyanesh Kumar
The criticism extended beyond Congress. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called for the Supreme Court to take note of the reported objections.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien also renewed calls for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and referred to a previous motion concerning his removal.
Leaders from parties including the AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI(M) and others also questioned the Election Commission's functioning following the report.
Election Commission Rejects Claim Of Internal Rift
The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that the reported objections demonstrate an internal split over SIR.
EC sources said Election Commissioners can have differing views on individual matters, but such views do not themselves constitute decisions of the Commission. According to the poll panel, all final decisions, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously with the approval of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and both Election Commissioners.
The Commission also said differences of opinion are possible during discussions and maintained that consensus was ultimately reached on its decisions.
Reported Disagreements Involved Electoral Rolls
The Indian Express report cited concerns allegedly raised by Sandhu and Joshi over several electoral-roll procedures.
These included changes to Form 6, the mechanism used for new voter registration; questions over the management and access of voter databases; deletion-related appeals in West Bengal; and difficulties involving eligible voters in Goa.
The report also said concerns about the centralisation of electoral-roll data and changes to the Election Commission's information-technology systems were raised.
Political Row Intensifies Over SIR
The dispute comes amid an ongoing political disagreement over the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Opposition parties have previously questioned the SIR process and raised concerns about its impact on voters, while the Election Commission has maintained that the exercise is aimed at ensuring accurate electoral rolls.
The latest report and the competing responses from Opposition parties and the Election Commission have now added a new dimension to the debate over the poll body's decision-making process and electoral-roll management.
