Key Highlights:
- Congress accuses Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Gupta of bias
- Pawan Khera slams CEC for “speaking BJP’s script” at press conference
- Questions on duplicate voter lists, CCTV footage, and denial of evidence
- Rahul Gandhi’s ‘dead voters’ episode cited—Congress demands apology
- Why no action against Anurag Thakur if ruling and opposition are ‘equal’, asks Khera
New Delhi: After the Election Commission’s press conference, AICC Media Department Chairman Pawan Khera launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar Gupta, accusing him of working as an “agent of the BJP”.
Khera mocked the CEC, saying, “At least today we got to know that the CEC’s name is Gyanesh Kumar Gupta. Until now, it seemed as if Sambit Patra or Anurag Thakur were the Election Commissioners of this country. But when he spoke, it was again the same BJP script.”
Duplicate Voter Controversy
The Congress leader strongly objected to the CEC’s statement that even if a voter is registered at multiple places, he would still be able to cast only one vote.
“Will Gupta ji put this claim in writing before the court on an affidavit?” Khera questioned, adding that the Election Commission has consistently ignored Congress’ complaints regarding irregularities in the Mahadev Assembly polls.
CCTV Privacy vs Transparency
Khera also flagged inconsistencies in the EC’s arguments on election transparency. “When we ask for CCTV footage, you say it violates privacy. If it violates privacy, then why do you record it at all? And if you record it, why do you hold it for 45 days?” he asked.
He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s questions regarding electoral malpractices were glossed over by the Commission, while the EC continued to put out “illogical arguments” even in court.
“Dead Voters” Episode
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s symbolic meeting with alleged “dead voters” (who were listed by the EC as deceased but alive in reality), Khera said:
“Instead of apologizing to the nation for declaring alive people as dead voters, the CEC acted like a spokesperson of the ruling government.”
Unequal Treatment of Ruling vs Opposition
Pawan Khera also exposed what he claimed to be double standards of the EC. He said that the Chief Election Commissioner claims to treat ruling and opposition parties equally. “If that is true, then why no notice to Anurag Thakur till date? Why was Rahul Gandhi served notice in the middle of the press conference itself?”
According to Khera, the CEC’s attitude shows he is seeking post-retirement rewards from the government, jeopardizing the reputation of the Election Commission and the future of lakhs of employees under him.
Political Impact
This sharp criticism highlights the widening trust gap between the Congress and the Election Commission just months before crucial state polls. The demand for greater transparency in the electoral system is expected to dominate the next round of political debates, especially on issues like voter list duplication, CCTV scrutiny, and EC’s impartiality.
