New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of placing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in charge of “match-fixing” India’s elections.
The allegation came amid opposition demands for Kumar’s removal from the post. Gandhi made the remarks after reposting a message from the Kerala Congress, which referred to media reports alleging that Kumar, who previously served as an IAS officer, had asked a former Kerala chief secretary to join the electoral contest as a BJP candidate after retirement.
“First, Gyanesh Kumar – then a serving IAS officer – was used to recruit for the BJP. Then Modi and Shah made him the umpire and put him in charge of match-fixing India’s elections,” Gandhi alleged in a post on X.
Kumar and the Kerala Congress did not immediately issue any response to Gandhi’s allegations, as reported by The New Indian Express.
The Chief Election Commissioner has faced sustained criticism from opposition parties over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He also came under scrutiny after a media report claimed that differences had emerged within the Election Commission.
The Election Commission, however, has denied any division within the panel and said that all its decisions, including those concerning the SIR exercise, were taken unanimously.
‘End CEC Safeguards’: Priyanka
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, meanwhile, sharpened her criticism of Kumar, calling for his resignation and seeking the removal of the legal protection available to the CEC and Election Commissioners.
She alleged that the BJP-led government had introduced the safeguards to protect the poll panel from being held accountable. Vadra also said that all parties in the INDIA bloc were united in demanding Kumar’s removal.
The Wayanad MP was speaking to reporters in Malappuram in response to questions about reports of disagreements within the three-member Election Commission over electoral-roll revisions, the removal and inclusion of voters’ names, changes in forms for new voters and access to voter data.
“I strongly believe that the legal safeguards that are provided to the Election Commissioner, which were instituted by the BJP government to protect him no matter what he does, those safeguards need to be removed,” she said.
Vadra was referring to Section 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
The provision prevents courts from taking up or continuing civil or criminal proceedings against a serving or former CEC or Election Commissioner for an act, matter or statement made while discharging, or claiming to discharge, official duties.
The section effectively grants the poll panel’s top officials immunity from civil and criminal proceedings relating to decisions, actions or statements made in their official capacity.
‘They Have To Be Held Responsible’
Vadra argued that alleged crimes against democracy by an Election Commissioner could not be carried out without the backing of political leaders.
“If anyone is committing illegal acts against the nation, against our Constitution, against India, they need to be tried for the criminal action they are involved in. This is treason and they need to be tried for it,” she said.
She further alleged that those involved in helping the BJP rig elections would attempt to defend their conduct.
“You are seeing their overconfident statements before every election… predicting the exact amount of seats they are going to get… where are they getting their overconfidence from,” she asked.
Vadra claimed that public sentiment on the ground was at odds with election results, saying people appeared dissatisfied with the BJP while the party continued to secure electoral victories.
“So, what you hear on the grounds from the people is something and the election results are something else,” she said.
When asked about the Congress’ immediate demand, Vadra said Gandhi had already called for Kumar’s resignation.
She also asserted that the INDIA bloc parties were on the same page over the issue.
“The INDIA bloc is very clear on this point. Every single leader in the alliance, every single party is in full agreement that what is going on is absolutely illegal… it is anti-constitutional… against our nation… against our democracy. And those who are doing it have to be taken to task. They have to be held responsible,” she said.