New Delhi, 24 September—Calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha today advised the country’s top Election Commissioner to turn approver in the country interest while reiterating his earlier claims of “vote-chori”.
Addressing a press conference, Rahul Gandh said: “Election Commission has lost control of the voter list”.
“The credibility in the list is gone. The EC itself is saying internally that they have lost control. This is the talk in their system, that the clean, properly defined voter list is now destroyed,” he added.
“The law give Gyanesh Kumar immunity. The Prime Minister has done this,” alleges Rahul Gandhi.
“Gyanesh Kumar should turn approver, it’ll be in country’s interest,” he added, alleging that the CEC has not been acting independently.
The Congress leader also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will be investigated for the Election Commission row. He also called them ‘desh-drohis.’
Rahul Gandhi accused Modi and Shah as “protectors” of Gyanesh Kumar.
“We need a reform of the Election Commission. I don’t think this government can do it. It can only happen when the government changes,” said Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress leader cited states like Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, questioning how the anti-incumbency in these states had “disappeared.”
Gandhi’s presser came after an investigative report from The Indian Express newspaper stated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections to decisions taken in the commission’s name at least 14 times over 10 months.
“… I have shown it with proof, and there is already more than enough information to make this a 100 per cent certainty that Indian elections, Lok Sabha elections, 2024 election, Vidhan Sabha elections are all being rigged,” Gandhi said. The Congress MP further said that the two Election Commissioners had “done a wise thing”, while adding that the CEC must “think seriously and turn approver.
Gandhi said that he had given a dissent note during the CEC appointment process, saying it should be independent and free from executive control. However, he claimed his note was “junked.”
The appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India is currently governed by the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. A three-member high-level committee, including the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union cabinet minister nominated by the PM recommends names to the President for the final appointment.
Gandhi mentioned the names of some states when speaking about the anti-incumbency factor, claiming it had “disappeared” in swing states.
“Haryana swings from one party to another for 50 years. Suddenly anti-incumbency disappears. Maharashtra swings; suddenly it disappears. Uttar Pradesh swings. Sometimes Samajwadi, sometimes BSP; it disappears. Madhya Pradesh, it disappears. Gujarat, it disappears. This has been a fundamental question for us,” Gandhi said, according to ANI news agency.
He further said the Opposition “understands the popularity of a person and the performance of the government”. “…But we cannot understand how anti-incumbency disappears,” Gandhi added.
Gandhi said that he had raised concerns, but they had been “ignored.” “People of India believed it. But the institutional framework of India was not interested…” the Lok Sabha LoP said.
“From vote-chori comes Kanun-chori…. From Kanun-chori comes Sanstha chori — institutions. This is the chain that has taken place…” Gandhi alleged. “If the vote has been stolen and the MPs sitting in parliament are there based on a stolen vote, then any law they are making is illegal, and any institutional change they make is also illegal,” he added,
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