Opposition vs ECI

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ has injected rhetoric into Bihar’s charged political atmosphere. From Sasaram, the Congress leader launched his 1,300-km, 16-day march. He has alleged that the BJP, aided by the Election Commission of India (ECI), is conspiring to “steal” votes through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. By declaring that “the only power the poor have is their vote, and even that is being stolen”, Rahul seeks to frame the Bihar campaign as a larger fight for democracy. The presence of INDIA bloc leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Mallikarjun Kharge at the yatra signals that this is also about Opposition unity ahead of the poll battles. Like his earlier Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul hopes to mobilise support for himself and the Congress party.

The charges have prompted a rare rebuttal by the ECI. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday clarified that claims of large-scale voter deletion — whether through “House No. 0” entries or duplicate names — were exaggerated and that parties were welcome to flag genuine errors before the rolls are finalised in September. The commission pushed back against Rahul’s “vote chori” phrasing, terming it “improper” and misleading. It stressed that transparency must be balanced against protection of voter privacy, especially for EVM-readable rolls.

This exchange highlights the heart of the debate: public faith in the fairness of elections. While Opposition charges cannot be brushed aside as mere theatrics, the ECI must go the extra mile to demonstrate impartiality. Equally, political leaders must avoid language that risks eroding trust in democratic processes without solid evidence. For the BJP, development claims remain its counterweight. Yet, if voters doubt the ballot sanctity, growth statistics alone cannot compensate. Both the watchdog and the political class must prioritise credibility over confrontation.

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