Tejashwi Yadav Accuses Election Commission of Fraud in Bihar and Bengal, Demands Re-elections

Patna, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the opposition leader in the Bihar Assembly, has made serious allegations against the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). During a press conference in Patna, he claimed that the recent assembly elections in Bihar and West Bengal were marred by fraudulent practices and called for re-elections in both states.

Yadav accused the Election Commission of being manipulated in favor of the BJP, asserting that constitutional institutions are being undermined. He referenced a report published in an English newspaper that raised significant questions about the Commission’s operations.

According to the report, two election commissioners have raised objections to the Commission’s decisions and procedures at least 14 times over the past ten months. Yadav highlighted concerns regarding the Special Intensive Review (SIR) process, indicating that the Election Commission has not provided clear responses to these objections.

He also targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that he operates under pressure from the central government. Yadav stated that the RJD opposed the initiation of the SIR process in Bihar and has taken the issue to both the streets and the Supreme Court. He claimed that this process is being used to remove names of ordinary voters while attempting to add names of BJP supporters.

Yadav argued that the defeats of opposition parties in states like Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Haryana cannot solely be seen as electoral outcomes. He contended that the alleged misuse of the Election Commission and government machinery has significantly affected the electoral process. He raised concerns about changes to the duration for preserving election-related records, which has been reduced from one year to just 45 days, potentially hindering evidence collection for legal challenges.

He also criticized changes in the appointment process for the Chief Election Commissioner, which shifted from involving the Chief Justice of India to being determined by a central minister. Citing a 1995 Supreme Court ruling, Yadav emphasized that the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners are equal, and their concerns deserve clear answers.

Yadav accused the BJP of influencing various institutions, including the CBI, ED, income tax department, and the Election Commission itself. He asserted that the right to vote is paramount in a democracy, and questioning the electoral process weakens democratic structures. He reiterated the need for re-elections in Bihar and West Bengal, stating that the electoral integrity in these regions has been compromised.