Congress flays EC saying 'No need to sit in its building'

Taking a dig at the top officials of the Election Commission, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh sarcastically remarked,"There was no need for them to sit in the Election Commission building; they should instead occupy a floor at the BJP headquarters".

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that when leaders of the INDIA alliance visited the Commission on Wednesday evening regarding the special revision issue, they were treated with an “arbitrary attitude.”

He stated that such behaviour from this constitutional institution weakens the basic framework of democracy.

Taking a jibe, Jairam Ramesh asked how many more “masterstrokes” of the Commission were yet to be seen. Ramesh claimed that only two representatives from each party were allowed to meet, preventing several leaders from interacting with the Commission’s members, and he himself had to wait in the reception area for nearly two hours.

The Election Commission stated that it had decided to meet two representatives from each party to ensure that everyone’s views could be heard.

Congress’ media department head Pawan Khera told reporters, “We all have the crucial right to vote, and steps are being taken to deliberately undermine it. The Election Commission is a pawn taking these steps.”

He added, “It is surprising that when Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi or Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge demand the voter list for Maharashtra or CCTV footage from polling day, the Commission doesn’t respond for months. But here, a new voter list for the entire state of Bihar will be prepared in just one month.”

He further alleged, “If the Election Commission is acting as a middleman, why should we meet middlemen? We will talk directly to the BJP.” Khera also said, “With all due respect, the Election Commission cannot be a middleman for any party. Everyone must work within their limits—that is the definition of democracy.”

He added, “With all humility, I am warning the Commission that power is transient. Why are you acting as slaves to them (BJP)? Serve democracy and the Constitution instead… It pains us when we have to say this.”

Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee President Rajesh Kumar questioned who decided to undertake such a massive special intensive revision in just one month for the first time.

He claimed that the Commission is clearly under suspicion for attempting to eliminate 20 per cent of Bihar’s votes.

Kumar remarked, “Flood-affected people have nothing in their possession. Every time a flood hits, their homes are submerged, and they have to rebuild.How will people living in such difficult conditions provide the proof you demand?”