‘EC In Hands Of Those Taking Sides’: Opposition Responds To Poll Body Presser, BJP Hits Back | Elections News

Last Updated:August 18, 2025, 17:01 IST

The BJP, meanwhile, criticised the opposition’s disregard of the Election Commission’s comments on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s vote theft allegations

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, and SP leader Ramgopal Yadav during a press conference by INDIA bloc parties at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on August 18. (Image: ANI)

Amid reports that the opposition is considering moving an impeachment notice against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, INDIA bloc parties on Monday came down heavily on the press conference held a day before by the Election Commission of India.

The opposition parties, led by the Congress, said the Election Commission (EC) is not acting like an unbiased entity and is in the hands of officers who are taking sides. The BJP, meanwhile, criticised the opposition’s disregard of the EC’s comments on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s vote theft allegations.    

“The EC is in the hands of officers who are taking sides; it is not probing any charges made by the opposition,” said Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi during a press conference held by the INDIA bloc in response to the EC’s presser.

“…In its press conference yesterday, the EC raised questions about the political parties when they had to explain why they were conducting SIR (special intensive revision) in a hurry. The EC was silent on SIR in Bihar. They were also silent on how new 70 lakh voters were added between Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections…it is clear that EC is under such officials who are not unbiased,” Gogoi said.

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Addressing a joint press conference after a meeting, representatives of eight prominent opposition parties like the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK and RJD hit out at the chief election commissioner (CEC), alleging that instead of responding to questions raised by them, he chose to attack them during his presser on Sunday (August 17).

WHAT DID THE OPPOSITION SAY?

Accusing CEC Gyanesh Kumar of acting like a BJP spokesperson, the opposition parties said he failed to answer their questions on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and issues related to voter list irregularities.

During the press conference, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra termed the EC’s presser as a “shameful display of puppetry” and said there should be action against the EC over “fraudulent” voter lists.

“West Bengal CM raised issue of duplicate EPIC voter cards, but issue not resolved,” Moitra said. “…Absolutely shameful display of puppetry by the Chief Election Commissioner at the press conference yesterday (August 17). The job of the Election Commission is not to attack the opposition. Mr Chief Election Commissioner, I would urge you to go back to your political masters….”

Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav said it is wrong of the EC to claim that the opposition levels charges without facts, and that no affidavits have been given.

“SP leaders gave an affidavit on removal of 18,000 voters from electoral rolls in 2022 but no action by EC,” Yadav said. “Election Commission saying that baseless complaints being made is wrong…In UP (Uttar Pradesh), the process to cut votes has already started…all this is done in a calculated way, and EC ignores our complaints. This is a serious issue.”

Gogoi said the EC was silent on the issue of voter additions in Maharashtra, discrepancies in rolls in Mahadevapura (assembly segment under Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat), and video data deletion.

“The right to vote is the most important right given by the Constitution to a common citizen. Democracy depends on it. EC is the body meant to protect it… But we can see that the CEC did not reply to the important questions being raised by the political parties, and is running away from its responsibility,” he said.

He reminded the EC that its constitutional duty is to ensure free and fair elections and claimed that the officials at the helm are not allowing an inquiry into the opposition’s allegations. He said the CEC should have answered valid questions asked by the opposition.

“On the contrary, he raised questions on political parties and attacked them. It would have been better if they had told why SIR was done in such a hurry, when elections are just three months away, without discussing with political parties; why are they in a rush to announce SIR?” he asked.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha attacked the CEC, saying: “Yesterday we were looking for our CEC, we found a new BJP spokesperson,” while Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT) also accused the CEC of “behaving like a BJP spokesperson”.

WHAT DID THE BJP SAY?

The BJP, meanwhile, said the opposition had been triggered by the EC’s press conference. “The entire opposition ecosystem is buzzing like a bee in a bonnet after the Election Commission’s press conference. Pure schadenfreude,” said BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya before the opposition’s press conference.

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut accused Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of insulting voters. She said despite being reprimanded by the EC, the opposition was creating a ruckus in Parliament over the Bihar special intensive revision (SIR) exercise.

“Election Commission has reprimanded Rahul Gandhi, that he insulted people and voters. Rahul Gandhi has dishonoured the voters he named. Despite such reprimanding, they (INDIA bloc MPs) did drama here today. So, you can understand that if they don’t get power, they would not let any work be done. When they had the opportunity, they did corruption. Now, when the country is progressing, they are sad. So, public is watching this and that is the reason they won’t be able to win any election…” Ranaut said.

Union Minister SP Singh Baghel said it is an insult to the Constitution that the opposition wants to bring an impeachment notice against the CEC. “Several important bills were supposed to be introduced in monsoon session. But all of that fell victim to the ruckus. This happened due to the opposition… No Election Commission can ever delete the name of a valid voter… Opposition wants to make them citizens of India by turning them into voters. If this happens, the elections in democracy will get affected. If those who do not have the right to vote become voters it will affect social harmony as well as the internal security of the country,” he said.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said: “Rahul Gandhi and Congress have repeatedly tried to defame democracy by lying. Rahul Gandhi is constantly pushing the limits of lying. The Election Commission’s clarification and facts have exposed Congress’s conspiracy. The truth has come to light…”

WHAT DID THE EC SAY IN ITS SUNDAY PRESSER?

Addressing a press conference, CEC Gynaesh Kumar said the Bihar SIR is aimed at removing all shortcomings in voter lists and that it is a matter of grave concern that some parties are spreading misinformation about it, firing from the EC’s shoulder.

Kumar rejected as “baseless” the allegations of double voting and “vote theft” and asserted that all stakeholders are working to make SIR a success in a transparent manner.

(With agency inputs)

Oindrila Mukherjee

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st…Read More

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st… Read More

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