Former CEC Quraishi Criticizes ECI for Not Probing Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Theft’ Claims

Speedy Summary

• Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its handling of allegations made by Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi regarding “vote theft.”
• Mr. Quraishi called the ECI’s response toward Mr. Gandhi “objectionable and offensive” and suggested that a probe into the allegations should have been launched instantly.
• Rahul gandhi alleged irregularities in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, claiming over 1 lakh votes were “stolen” in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment through manipulations and similar issues in other states.
• Mr. Gandhi conducted a ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ across Bihar against ECI’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging collusion between BJP and ECI to manipulate votes.
• The ECI demanded an affidavit from Mr. Gandhi within seven days or risk invalidating his claims, which was criticized by mr. Quraishi as improper conduct for a constitutional body.
• quraishi expressed concerns about declining public trust in electoral processes due to incomplete investigations and exclusionary practices like disregarding Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) for voter inclusion; he argued it contradicts decades of progress on voter roll accuracy.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The remarks by former CEC S.Y. Quraishi underscore an essential point about maintaining fairness and transparency in democratic institutions like the Election Commission of India (ECI).Allegations of voter fraud deserve robust scrutiny-not only to validate any claims but also to reinforce public confidence in electoral systems. This is especially crucial when such accusations come from prominent leaders,as they represent significant political constituencies.

the ongoing debate prompts questions about whether the current responses by institutional bodies are sufficient amidst complex challenges posed by misinformation or manipulation claims tied to elections across varied regions like Bihar or Karnataka. Moreover, procedural inconsistencies-such as sidelining EPIC identification-may weaken perceptions of accountability within election mechanisms that took decades to build.

Given India’s diverse electorate and long history with electoral innovation, holistic approaches involving impartial investigations could bolster public trust while protecting institutional credibility during contentious times.

Read more: The Hindu

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