Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of undermining the democratic process. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, Gandhi alleged that voter rolls were being manipulated, effectively resulting in the theft of votes. He characterized Kumar’s actions as an act against the nation and warned that the Congress party would not remain silent while democracy is allegedly dismantled.
Gandhi argued that the integrity of the electoral process is the foundation of the Indian Constitution and the legitimacy of its laws. He asserted, "If the vote has been destroyed, then our Constitution has been destroyed. It no longer has its power, and it no longer functions. If our Constitution has been destroyed, our laws are illegal. And if our laws are illegal, our institutions are meaningless." The Congress leader further claimed that the 2024 general and assembly elections were rigged, suggesting that the current members of Parliament are serving based on stolen votes.
Central to Gandhi’s argument was the disappearance of anti-incumbency in various states, which he contrasted with historical political trends. He questioned how the BJP maintains such high levels of electoral success despite the typical political cycles seen in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. He stated, "We can understand the popularity of a person. We can understand the performance of a government. But we cannot understand how anti-incumbency disappears."
Gandhi also referenced reports that objections raised by other Election Commissioners regarding the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls were ignored. He urged Kumar to turn approver, describing such a move as an act of nationalism, and warned that those responsible for the alleged irregularities would eventually face consequences.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the allegations, labeling the press conference a failure and describing Gandhi as a frustrated politician unable to secure public support. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari stated, "Loktantra ki chor Congress is frustrated as the Gandhi-Vadra family is democratically made to sit in the Opposition by the people of India." Meanwhile, the Election Commission has previously maintained that its decisions are made unanimously by the full commission.
