Bihar SIR row: EC rejects allegations of bias and 'vote chori', says all parties equal before poll body

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday dismissed allegations of bias in the electoral process, saying it treats ruling and opposition parties alike, as Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row picks up steam.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said the poll body was committed to its constitutional duty and would not discriminate between political parties.

“The Election Commission wants to give a message to the voters. According to the Indian Constitution, persons completing 18 years should be a voter. You know that according to law, every political party has registration in the ECI, then how the ECI can discriminate, for the ECI, ruling parties and the opposition parties are equal. The ECI will never back down from its constitutional duties,” Kumar said at a press conference in Delhi.


The statement comes after Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi alleged irregularities including 'vote chori' and accused the poll body of failing to ensure fair elections.

Responding indirectly to such claims, the Election Commission said, “If making allegations of vote theft is not an insult to India’s Constitution, then what else is it?”

On the Bihar SIR exercise, Kumar also responded to queries on why it is being taken up now. “From the last two decades, all the political parties have been asking for rectification of errors in electoral roll, hence SIR was started from Bihar. In the process of SIR, all the voters, booth level officers, and all the political parties named 1.6 lakh BLAs have prepared a draft of electoral roll. Its copy has been given to all of you. The BLAs of political parties signed on it. To rectify the errors in the stipulated time, all the voters, and political parties are giving invaluable contributions,” he said.

He noted that 28,370 claims and objections had already been filed on the draft rolls, adding that 15 days were still available for further submissions, urging parties to come forward and rectify any errors if found. “These claims and objections, in Bihar's SIR, can happen from August 1 to September 1, 15 days are still left, the ECI wants to appeal to all political parties, BLAs named by them, national level political parties, state level political parties, that if they find any error in draft electoral roll, they can submit it with prescribed forms, the ECI's doors are open for everyone."

CEC dismisses Rahul Gandhi's allegations

The EC supremo further rejected allegations made by Opposition parties and said that neither the poll body nor the voters scared of baseless allegations of double voting and 'vote chori'. “It is a matter of grave concern that some parties and their leaders are spreading misinformation on SIR in Bihar."

Addressing privacy concerns, the CEC said, “We saw a few days ago that photos of many voters were presented to the media without their permission. Allegations were made against them, they were used. Should the Election Commission share the CCTV videos of any voter including their mothers, daughters-in-law, daughters? Only those whose names are in the voter list cast their votes to elect their candidate.”

He further added, “SC said in 2019 itself sharing of machine readable voter lists can breach voters' privacy.”

Kumar, in his media conference, also explained the scale of the election machinery. “In the process of Lok Sabha elections, more than one crore employees, more than 10 lakh booth level agents, more than 20 lakh polling agents of candidates work for the elections. In such a transparent process in front of so many people, can any voter steal votes?”

On allegations of double voting, Kumar said, “Some voters alleged double voting. When asked for proof, no answer was given. Neither the Election Commission nor any voter is afraid of such false allegations. When politics is being done by targeting the voters of India by keeping a gun on the shoulder of the Election Commission, today the Election Commission wants to make it clear to everyone that the Election Commission fearlessly stood like a rock with all the voters of all sections and all religions including the poor, rich, elderly, women, youth without any discrimination, is standing and will continue to stand.”

He underlined that the law provides due recourse for grievances. "Even after the returning officer declares the results, there is a provision in the law that within a period of 45 days, political parties can go to the Supreme Court and file an election petition to challenge the election."

He further said, "After this 45-day period, making such baseless allegations, be it in Kerala, Karnataka, or Bihar. When that 45-day period after the elections is over and during that period, no candidate or political party finds any irregularity, then today, after so many days, the voters and people of the country understand the intention behind making such baseless allegations..."

“Fact remains that all stakeholders are working to make SIR a success in a transparent manner,” Kumar further said.