Opposition Accuses CEC of Acting Like BJP Spokesperson, Avoiding Questions

Speedy Summary

• Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, SP, DMK, and RJD accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of acting like a BJP spokesperson.
• At a press conference on August 18, 2025, opposition leaders criticized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities in the voter list.
• Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the CEC deflected questions about SIR at his own press conference rather than addressing them.
• Opposition leaders questioned why SIR was conducted hastily three months before elections without consulting political parties.
• Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav highlighted past complaints to the EC regarding voter list irregularities where no action was taken.
• TMC’s mahua Moitra demanded prosecution of election officials if fraudulent voter lists were used in Lok Sabha elections and called for dissolving Parliament under such circumstances.
• RJD leader Manoj Jha claimed the CEC appeared biased toward BJP while dismissing key concerns from opposition parties.
• CEC Gyanesh Kumar denied allegations of double voting and termed accusations as baseless misinformation aimed at discrediting ongoing electoral revisions.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The accusations about perceived bias in India’s election processes could have serious implications for electoral integrity and public trust in democratic institutions.While the Election Commission has a constitutional mandate to ensure free and fair polls, it’s vital to transparently address claims from all stakeholders to maintain credibility. On one hand, allegations unaccompanied by evidence can undermine confidence unnecessarily; on the othre hand, dismissing legitimate concerns risks alienating dissenting voices ahead of crucial elections.

The timing of SIR just before general state or national level elections inevitably raises eyebrows. Greater transparency about its objectives along with bipartisan endorsements could mitigate perceptions of bias. creating robust accountability mechanisms within independent institutions like the Election commission might serve as a long-term solution in depoliticizing contentious electoral reforms.Read more: The Hindu