The political row between the Congress and the Election Commission of India (ECI) escalated on Sunday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent allegations against the poll body. Responding to Gandhi’s charges, the Election Commission held a press conference today, asserting that it treats all political parties equally and does not indulge in any kind of discrimination.
However, the Commission’s remarks triggered a sharp reaction from Congress leaders. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshvardhan Sapkal launched a scathing attack, terming the press conference a “pathetic attempt to save face.”
“The Commission has stripped itself of dignity. Instead of addressing the real issue with data, it resorted to drama and spectacle. Why was there such urgency to hold a press conference on a Sunday?” Sapkal questioned.
He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi had exposed the “theft of votes” with documentary evidence, but the Election Commission chose to merely “read out a script handed over by the BJP.”
“The Commission’s response was nothing but a show. Once again, it has fallen flat on its face. Perhaps someone advised them to hold this press conference because Rahul Gandhi’s yatra was scheduled in Bihar today. Their attempt to counter him has only proved that vote theft indeed took place,” Sapkal charged.
Reacting to the Commission’s explanation that missing names from the voters’ list could be due to voter migration, Sapkal dismissed the reasoning as “shamelessness on the part of the ECI.”
With these fresh allegations and counter-allegations, the political atmosphere is expected to heat up further in the coming days.