Addressing a press conference, the CEC dismissed as baseless allegations of double voting and “vote theft” and asserted that all stakeholders are working transparently to make the SIR a success.
“It is of great concern that some parties and their leaders are spreading misinformation about the SIR in Bihar. The European Commission urges all political parties to file grievances and objections on the draft electoral rolls in Bihar… There are still 15 days left.
“The doors of the Electoral Commission are open to all, and officers and agents work together transparently,” he said.
Kumar said the EC cannot discriminate between political parties, and the ruling and opposition parties are equal before the electoral authority.
“It is an insult to the Constitution of India if election petitions are not filed within 45 days but allegations of electoral chori are raised,” he said.
Neither the EC nor voters are afraid of “baseless allegations” of double voting and “chori voting”, Kumar asserted, adding that the Election Commission would stand steadfast with voters of all classes without worrying about the politics of some. The comments come as the Opposition has intensified its attack on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and allegations of ‘chori voting’ raised by the Congress.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the entire country now knows that the Election Commission is “stealing” the elections in collusion with the BJP and asserted that the INDIA bloc will not let them succeed in their “plot” to steal the Bihar Assembly polls through additions and deletions of voters under the intensive special revision of electoral rolls.
He was addressing a gathering in Sasaram during the launch event of his 1,300 km ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ covering over 20 districts of Bihar.
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First publication: August 17, 2025 4:14 p.m. STI