The Opposition INDIA bloc has intensified its clash with the Election Commission of India (ECI) by planning an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This move follows serious allegations of voter fraud raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the ECI of manipulating voter data in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The escalating political row, centered on claims of “vote chori” (vote theft), has sparked heated exchanges, with the ECI firmly rejecting the accusations as baseless.
Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations Ignite Political Firestorm
On August 7, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged significant electoral irregularities, particularly in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bangalore Central.
He claimed that 1,00,250 “stolen” votes, including duplicate names, invalid addresses, and bulk registrations like “80 voters at one address,” enabled the BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha victory. Gandhi further accused the ECI of “colluding” with the ruling party and “destroying evidence” by limiting access to CCTV and webcasting footage from polling booths to just 45 days.
ALSO READ: EC asks Rahul Gandhi to share ‘vote chori’ proof through signed oath
Responding at a Delhi press conference on Sunday, CEC Gyanesh Kumar dismissed these claims as “baseless” and “an insult to the Constitution.” He challenged Gandhi to substantiate his allegations with a signed affidavit or issue a public apology, stating, “An affidavit will have to be given or an apology should be made to the country.
Teesra koi vikalp nahi (There is no third option). If the affidavit is not received within seven days, it means that all these allegations are baseless.” Gandhi countered, alleging selective targeting by the ECI, saying, “The Election Commission asks for an affidavit from me. But when Anurag Thakur (BJP MP) says the same thing that I am saying, it does not ask for an affidavit from him.”
Opposition Rallies, Questions ECI’s Impartiality
The INDIA bloc swiftly rallied behind Gandhi, accusing the ECI of bias. Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized Kumar’s remarks, stating, “It seemed like BJP was speaking today. Did he give any response about the one lakh voters we exposed in Mahadevapura?” RJD leader Manoj Jha accused the ECI of evading “burning questions,” while JMM MP Mahua Maji demanded clarity on the authenticity of documents presented by Gandhi.
The Opposition’s push for impeachment, which requires a parliamentary motion under Article 324(5) of the Constitution—akin to removing a Supreme Court judge—signals their determination to challenge the ECI’s credibility.
Kumar defended the ECI’s processes, rejecting claims of inflated voter lists in Maharashtra and emphasizing that no objections were raised during the draft roll stage.
ALSO READ: 5 takeaways from Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ claims
He also addressed concerns about voter privacy, questioning, “Should the Election Commission share CCTV videos of any voter including their mothers, daughters-in-law, daughters?”
Kumar stressed the transparency of Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, backed by “the credibility of seven crore voters,” and asserted, “If you keep saying anything 10 times, 20 times, it does not become true. The sun rises only in the east. It does not rise in the west just because someone says so.”
Impeachment Motion: A Symbolic Stand
The INDIA bloc’s planned impeachment motion, though a significant political statement, faces challenges due to the stringent requirements under Article 324(5). The process demands a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament, a threshold the Opposition may struggle to meet.
Nonetheless, the move underscores growing tensions over electoral integrity as the INDIA bloc seeks to hold the ECI accountable. With the Monsoon Session of Parliament ongoing, the coming days will reveal whether this confrontation reshapes India’s electoral discourse.
