NEW DELHI — Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched a sharp political attack against the Election Commission of India, calling for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi alleged that internal objections raised by Election Commissioners—specifically regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls—were being disregarded, pointing to broader systemic concerns over election transparency.
Key Claims and Political Assertions
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Resignation Demand: Gandhi called for the stepping down of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the commission’s leadership of compromising institutional integrity and acting against democratic norms.
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Allegations on Electoral Manipulation: The Congress leader asserted that systematic vote manipulation (“vote chori”) undermines the constitutional framework, contending that compromised electoral outcomes invalidate legislative authority and public institutions.
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Critique of Incumbency Dynamics: Questioning election trends in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi argued that typical political anti-incumbency patterns appear unnaturally absent in recent electoral outcomes involving the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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Constitutional Warnings: Gandhi stated that the opposition “will not remain silent” and framed the issue as an urgent constitutional matter involving the protection of the vote, law, and key state institutions.
Context and Opposition Position
The remarks signal an escalation in the opposition’s campaign against current electoral management practices, focusing on procedures governing voter roll updates and internal administrative consensus within the Election Commission of India.
