Congress leader links the Election Commission controversy to his continuing “vote theft” campaign and says the issue must now be taken to the people
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of the Election Commission and the BJP following the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi, focusing particularly on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Gandhi said he believed Kumar would eventually have to leave office and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself would ultimately ask the CEC to resign. These were Gandhi’s political assertions; they do not establish that such a resignation decision has been taken by the Prime Minister or the Election Commission.
The Congress leader also alleged that the CEC could not function independently without political protection and claimed that Kumar had the backing of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The allegations are disputed in the wider political debate, while the Election Commission has maintained that its procedures are lawful and that differences within the institution can arise as part of normal decision-making.
‘Vote theft’ remains central to Congress campaign
Gandhi has continued to use the phrase “vote theft” while questioning the handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. At the CWC meeting, Congress further escalated its demands concerning electoral-roll transparency, access to data and opportunities for voters whose names have been removed to appeal.
The Congress Working Committee has also adopted a position demanding action against the CEC and called for wider political mobilisation over the issue.
Gandhi said the Congress would have to take the issue directly to the public, arguing that awareness about alleged irregularities in the electoral process was increasing.
Political confrontation over Election Commission intensifies
The latest remarks add another layer to the ongoing confrontation between the Congress and the Election Commission. Opposition parties have raised allegations concerning voter-list revisions and the functioning of the poll panel, while the Election Commission has defended its processes.
The BJP has rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and questioned the basis of claims regarding internal differences within the Election Commission.
With the Congress now seeking broader public mobilisation on the issue, the dispute over electoral-roll revisions and the role of the Election Commission is set to remain a major political issue in the days ahead.
Source: Statements attributed to Rahul Gandhi; reports on the CWC meeting; Election Commission and BJP responses.