Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has escalated his attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s immediate resignation and an investigation into Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged electoral wrongdoing.
Gandhi has alleged that the country’s electoral system and democratic institutions have been compromised, calling for accountability from those he accuses of undermining the electoral process.
In a sharply worded presentation on the functioning of the poll panel, Gandhi’s campaign frames the vote as the foundation of India’s constitutional, legal and institutional structure, arguing that the protection of electoral rights is central to the survival of democracy. The presentation carries the slogan “Vote Chori • Kanoon Chori • Sanstha Chori” and declares: “Our vote has been destroyed.”
The presentation sets out a timeline of developments linked to its concerns over the independence and functioning of the Election Commission. It refers to a December 21, 2023 law concerning the appointment of election commissioners, Gandhi’s February 7, 2025 press conference and a February 17, 2025 dissent note concerning the appointment of a poll panel member.
The political confrontation puts the Election Commission’s independence, transparency and accountability at the centre of the opposition’s campaign. Gandhi’s presentation seeks to connect specific electoral complaints and institutional developments to a wider warning about the protection of voting rights and democratic institutions.
The allegations and demands outlined in the presentation represent Gandhi’s political position and require independent verification of the underlying claims. The presentation itself does not establish that a conspiracy to manipulate elections has occurred.