Opposition Slams CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Calls Him ‘BJP Spokesperson’ Over Voter List Row

The Opposition INDIA bloc on Monday (August 18, 2025) launched a scathing attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of acting like a "BJP spokesperson" instead of addressing their concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

At a joint press conference in Delhi, leaders from eight parties - including the Congress, TMC, SP, DMK and RJD - alleged that the CEC ignored their questions on voter list irregularities and instead used his press briefing on Sunday to target political parties.

Opposition's Allegations

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the Election Commission's constitutional duty is to safeguard the people's right to vote but claimed the CEC was "running away from responsibility."

"Why was the SIR announced in such haste, just months before elections, without consulting political parties?" Gogoi asked.

He alleged that officials leading the EC were preventing any independent inquiry into irregularities.

SP's Ramgopal Yadav reminded that his party had submitted affidavits highlighting the removal of 18,000 voters during the 2022 UP elections but "no action was ever taken."

TMC's Mahua Moitra went further, questioning the credibility of the existing electoral rolls.

"If the voter list on which the last general election was conducted is fraudulent, then this Lok Sabha should be dissolved, and past Election Commissioners should face prosecution," she said.

RJD's Manoj Jha and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Sawant both described Gyanesh Kumar as "behaving like a BJP spokesperson."

CEC's Defence

At his own press conference on Sunday, CEC Gyanesh Kumar defended the electoral roll revision in Bihar, calling it a measure to "remove shortcomings" and ensure clean voter lists.

He rejected allegations of "vote theft" and double voting as "baseless."

Kumar warned that it was a "matter of grave concern" that some parties were spreading misinformation and "firing from the Election Commission's shoulder."