Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Dismisses Congress Claims of Disputes within Election Commission
Gujarats CM refutes Congress allegations of Election Commission disputes, emphasizing transparency and consensus in voter list amendments.
Gandhinagar, September 27 (Daily Kiran) : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel addressed a press conference in Gandhinagar on Sunday, rejecting Congress’s claims of internal disputes within the Election Commission regarding the voter list amendment (SIR). He emphasized that all three election commissioners reached a unanimous decision on the matter, countering allegations of disagreement.
Patel stated that the Election Commission operates as an autonomous body, ensuring that elections are conducted transparently across the country. He reiterated that the decisions related to SIR were made collectively, undermining Congress’s assertions of discord.
The Chief Minister highlighted the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that all eligible citizens have their names accurately listed to exercise their voting rights. He referred to the Supreme Court’s acknowledgment of Form 6 for new voter registration, assuring that measures are in place to prevent any eligible citizen from being disenfranchised.
Patel accused Congress of adopting varying stances towards the Election Commission based on electoral outcomes. He noted that while the party praised the Commission’s impartiality following electoral victories, it raised concerns about “vote theft” and irregularities when the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, received a mandate.
He pointed out that Congress, along with the Communist Party, CPI(M), and Trinamool Congress, had previously challenged the SIR process in the Supreme Court, which ultimately upheld its legitimacy after hearing all parties involved.
In a reference to Kerala, Patel remarked that Congress acknowledged the SIR process’s validity, claiming it contributed to their electoral success there. He also mentioned that a special observer was appointed for elections in West Bengal following demands from the TMC.
Patel questioned the long absence of Congress from power in West Bengal, directing his inquiries at Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi, noting that the party has been out of power for 40 years. He remarked on Congress’s declining political influence in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar since 1990.
Citing the voter lists in West Bengal, he alleged that illegal names were removed, exposing fraudulent voters, which contributed to the BJP’s electoral victories. Furthermore, he accused those who previously limited the autonomy of the Election Commission of now making baseless allegations against it.
