2 hrs ago
BJP, Congress Clash Over ECI Differences and Vote Theft
India’s political parties are arguing about how the Election Commission made some decisions.
Two Election Commissioners reportedly objected to decisions at least 14 times.
The objections involved changing voter lists and a process called the Special Intensive Revision.
Congress says these disagreements show that the Election Commission may not have worked fairly.
It accused the Chief Election Commissioner and others of helping “steal votes.”
The BJP disagreed and said discussion among officials is a sign of a healthy democracy.
The Election Commission said its final decisions were unanimous.
The disagreement is mainly about whether internal debate shows a problem or normal decision-making.
The BJP called reported disagreements among Election Commissioners evidence of healthy democratic deliberation.
The Indian Express reported at least 14 objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over 10 months.
The objections reportedly involved voter additions, deletions and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Congress accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the BJP, the RSS and the ECI of enabling “vote theft.”
The ECI said differences were normal and that decisions by the full Commission over the past year were unanimous.
- Who
- The BJP, Congress, Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are central to the dispute.
- What
- A political dispute has developed over reported internal objections at the Election Commission and allegations of “vote theft.”
- Where
- The dispute concerns India’s Election Commission, with West Bengal election figures also cited in the debate.
- When
- The report describes objections made over 10 months; the BJP’s response was reported on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Why
- Congress says the reported objections raise questions about the Election Commission’s functioning, while the BJP and the Commission say differing views are normal before unanimous decisions.
Congress and Opposition
BJP and Election Commission
Meaning of internal disagreements
Congress and Opposition
Congress says repeated objections by two Election Commissioners raise questions about whether the Chief Election Commissioner was effectively making final decisions alone.
BJP and Election Commission
The BJP and ECI say disagreements and observations are normal institutional deliberations and that the full Commission ultimately reached unanimous decisions.
Alleged vote theft
Congress and Opposition
Congress alleges that the BJP, RSS and ECI were involved in “vote theft” and that the electoral process was manipulated to favor the ruling party.
BJP and Election Commission
The BJP rejects the allegation and cited West Bengal results from seats with high voter deletions to question how vote theft could have benefited only one party.
Key facts
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months.
- Issues involved
- The objections reportedly concerned voter additions, voter deletions and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- BJP position
- The BJP described internal differences among Election Commissioners as a sign of healthy democracy.
- Congress allegation
- Congress accused the Election Commission and others of facilitating “vote theft” and criticized Gyanesh Kumar.
- ECI position
- The Election Commission said differing views were normal and that decisions over the past year were unanimous.
- West Bengal figures
- Among 20 Assembly seats with the highest voter deletions cited by the BJP, the Trinamool won 13, the BJP six and Congress one.
Quotes
Sambit Patra
BJP spokesperson and Member of Parliament
“This is an official deliberation among the three election commissioners. What do we gather from this? The BJP did not go and plant a story in the media saying that there had been official deliberations among them. Such deliberations are actually a sign of a healthy democracy.”
freepressjournal.in
“Vote chori is a crime against the Indian people and a direct attack on our constitution. The BJP, RSS, and EC, who organised it, have committed an act of treason. Justice will be served.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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