The political atmosphere in India is charged, and at the heart of recent discussions is the Election Commission of India (ECI). Congress MP Manish Tewari has voiced significant concerns, stating that the **Election Commission** today faces a crisis of trust among a substantial number of people in the country. This sentiment arises amidst the ongoing ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ and serious allegations of ‘vote chori’ or vote theft.
Tewari didn’t mince words when addressing the issue of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, linking it directly to the broader ‘vote chori’ claims. He proposed a radical overhaul of the selection process for Election Commissioners. Imagine a committee comprising the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and both Leaders of the Opposition. This, he believes, is crucial to restore the **Election Commission’s** lost credibility.
His accusations are sharp: “The Election Commission has lost the trust of its very substantial shareholders. Unfortunately, many people in this country do not trust the Election Commission today.” This isn’t a new concern, according to Tewari.
It apparently began with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He recounted a puzzling incident from the Haryana elections where EVMs were used all day, then locked away for three days, only to emerge with a 99% battery life. He highlighted the absurdity, humorously comparing it to an iPad that loses charge overnight. “To date, the **Election Commission** has not been able to answer this,” he challenged.
The timing of the SIR ahead of the Bihar assembly elections also raises his suspicions. He questioned the very provision for such a revision in the Constitution itself. “There is no provision for Special Intensive Revision anywhere in the Constitution…The way this review is being done in a hurry, two months before the Bihar elections…it becomes suspicious…” This accelerated process, in his view, warrants a critical gaze.
Tewari reiterated his call for a revamped selection committee for Election Commissioners, emphasizing that such a body, with high-level representation, would be instrumental in regaining public confidence in the **Election Commission**.
On the other side of the fence, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has firmly refuted all ‘vote theft’ claims. He even issued a stern challenge, demanding an affidavit or an apology from those making such allegations. “If the affidavit is not received within seven days, it means that all these allegations are baseless,” Kumar stated, leaving no room for ambiguity.
The ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra,’ spearheaded by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, is a significant political move. Covering over 1,300 km across 20 districts in Bihar, its primary goal is to highlight alleged irregularities in the voter list, which opposition leaders label as ‘vote chori.’ The yatra is set to conclude in Patna, just as Bihar gears up for its assembly elections later this year, though official dates from the **Election Commission** are yet to be announced. This ongoing saga underscores the crucial importance of trust and transparency in the democratic process.