Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Friday said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should firmly respond to allegations being raised against the Election Commission to ensure voters do not lose confidence in the electoral process.
Paswan’s remarks came amid a political row over the functioning of the Election Commission and reported differences between Kumar and fellow Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
“If such questions are being raised against the Election Commission, I believe it is also the responsibility of the Election Commission, especially the CEC, to firmly present its side,” Paswan told reporters, according to Hindustan Times.
He said the Election Commission must ensure that doubts about the electoral process do not take root among voters.
“The Election Commission must maintain the trust of the people because if doubts arise in the public’s mind about the electoral process itself, that would be wrong,” Paswan said.
Row over reported objections by two Election Commissioners
Paswan’s comments came after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period concerning decisions and processes within the poll panel.
The reported objections covered issues including voter registration and deletion, changes to Form 6, access to electoral-roll databases and aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The report said the two commissioners had, in some instances, questioned whether certain actions were taken without their knowledge and described some moves as “unauthorised” or “illegal”.
The Election Commission, however, has said differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations. It maintained that decisions taken by the full Commission over the past year were unanimous.
Rahul Gandhi demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
The controversy has also triggered demands from Opposition leaders for Kumar’s resignation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called for Kumar to step down, while alleging serious irregularities in the electoral process. Those allegations remain contested, with the Election Commission defending its decision-making process and saying final decisions were taken unanimously.
Other political leaders and groups have also raised demands concerning the CEC and the ongoing SIR exercise, adding to the wider debate over the functioning of the poll panel.
Chirag Paswan stresses public trust
Paswan, who heads an LJP faction that is part of the BJP-led NDA, said the issue was not simply about political criticism but also about maintaining confidence in the electoral system.
He said the Election Commission should clearly put forward its position whenever questions are raised about its functioning.
His remarks come as the reported differences within the three-member poll panel and the broader debate over electoral-roll revisions continue to draw political attention.
