Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar dismissed allegations of bias against the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday, regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
He said some groups were trying to fool voters by spreading confusion and questioning the credibility of both the poll body and the electorate.
Without naming any party, the CEC indirectly responded to the Opposition’s claims that the ECI was colluding with the ruling BJP.
“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 that it fearlessly stands like a rock with all voters – poor, rich, elderly, women, youth, and of every religion – without any discrimination,” Gyanesh Kumar said at a press conference in Delhi.
CEC Stresses Transparency in Electoral Roll Exercise
The CEC underlined that the doors of the Commission remain open for all parties. He said voters, political parties, and booth-level officers were working together transparently at the ground level, verifying and signing lists, and even giving video testimonials.
“It is a matter of serious concern that these verified documents and testimonials are either not reaching the state or national level leaders of the same parties, or an attempt is being made to spread confusion by ignoring the ground reality,” he added.
Giving details, Gyanesh Kumar said that in Bihar alone, more than 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of all recognised parties had jointly prepared the draft lists during the SIR exercise.
He added that voters who turned 18 on 1 July or would turn 18 by 1 October had already filed 28,370 claims and objections.
CEC Warns Against Irresponsible Allegations
The CEC said that since more than seven crore voters participated in Bihar, no one could question the credibility of the Election Commission or the voters.
He warned against irresponsible remarks such as ‘vote theft’, calling them an insult to the Constitution.
Responding to allegations of double voting and data misuse, he reminded that in the Lok Sabha elections alone, more than one crore officials, 10 lakh booth-level agents, and 20 lakh polling agents of candidates had overseen the process, making malpractice impossible.
He also condemned the display of voter photos in the media without consent, calling it a breach of privacy.
On 7 August, Rahul Gandhi gave a detailed presentation on the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka and claimed that nearly one lakh votes, manipulated, to which the CEC indirectly referred.
Gandhi also showed photos of voters along with their residential details.
Reiterating the Commission’s constitutional duty, Gyanesh Kumar said: “For the Election Commission, there is neither any opposition nor any ruling party. All are equal before us.”
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