Vote Row
INDIA bloc mulls bringing motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid faceoff over 'voter fraud'
New Delhi/IBNS: The opposition INDIA bloc is mulling bringing a motion in Parliament to remove Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar after the poll body head counter-attacked Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the "voter fraud" allegations, media reports said.
The INDIA bloc discussed bringing the motion against Kumar during their meeting in Parliament on Monday morning.
As the Opposition lacks the numbers in Parliament to pass such a motion, the move is viewed as a tactic to exert pressure on the CEC.
Two-third majority is required in both the Houses of Parliament- Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha- for such a motion to pass through.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday hit back at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his "vote chori" remark, giving him a week’s time to either furnish proof under affidavit or issue a public apology.
The poll body made it clear that in the absence of evidence, such allegations would be deemed false.
Calling the LoP's statement an "insult to the Constitution", the Commission said the use of phrases like "vote chori" undermined democratic institutions.
Kumar also accused political parties of using the poll body as a political prop.
He also dismissed claims of double voting, saying while concerns had been raised by some, no evidence was submitted.
The EC’s warning came just hours after Rahul Gandhi questioned why he alone was asked to provide an affidavit.
Rahul Gandhi’s response: 'Why only me? Why not BJP?'
Speaking in Sasaram, Bihar, at the launch of his Voter Adhikar Yatra, Rahul said, "When I held a press conference on vote theft, the Election Commission asked me for an affidavit. But when BJP leaders held a press conference a few days ago, no affidavit was demanded from them. The Commission says, ‘Submit an affidavit that your data is correct’. This data belongs to the Election Commission itself. Why am I being asked for an affidavit?"
The Voter Adhikar Yatra, aimed at highlighting alleged irregularities in the electoral process, will traverse more than 20 districts in poll-bound Bihar.
Rahul was joined at the launch event by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as well as RJD leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav.
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