1 hr ago
Sai Demands Rahul Gandhi Apologise Over Election Commission Claims
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
He said Gandhi should apologise to the Election Commission of India and the country.
Congress and other groups had questioned the election panel and called for the chief election commissioner's resignation.
Their concerns followed a report saying two election commissioners had objected several times to how an electoral-roll revision was handled.
The Election Commission said its decisions were unanimous.
It also said the letters mentioned in the report were about a routine staff matter, not election policy or the revision process.
Sai said this showed that claims of disagreements inside the commission were baseless.
Congress has continued to raise questions about the poll panel and the electoral process.
Sai said Congress should respect constitutional institutions.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai demanded Rahul Gandhi apologise to the Election Commission and the country.
Sai said Congress allegations of internal disagreements within the poll panel were intended to undermine constitutional institutions.
The Election Commission said its decisions, including on electoral-roll revision, were unanimous.
The poll panel said letters from two commissioners concerned a routine administrative matter involving an officer on deputation.
Sai cited the Supreme Court's May 27 judgment and accused Congress of questioning institutions after electoral defeats.
- Who
- Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Congress, and the Election Commission of India.
- What
- Sai demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and criticised Congress allegations about disagreements within the Election Commission.
- Where
- At the Bharatiya Janata Party's state office in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
- When
- September 27; the report identifies the day as Sunday.
- Why
- Sai said Congress claims about the poll panel were baseless and aimed at undermining constitutional institutions after electoral defeats.
Congress and Critics
BJP and Election Commission Response
Internal disagreements
Congress and Critics
Congress and other groups pointed to a report saying two election commissioners objected at least 14 times over 10 months to the poll panel's handling of the electoral-roll revision.
BJP and Election Commission Response
Sai said the allegations were a ploy to undermine constitutional institutions, while the Election Commission said the cited letters concerned a routine administrative matter rather than policy or the revision process.
Accountability of the poll panel
Congress and Critics
Congress and other organisations demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
BJP and Election Commission Response
Sai said the Election Commission had clarified the matter and should be respected as a constitutional institution.
Electoral-roll revision
Congress and Critics
Congress and opposition groups continued to raise questions about the process.
BJP and Election Commission Response
Sai cited the Supreme Court's May 27 judgment and said the legality of the exercise had been upheld.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh
- Demand
- Sai called on Rahul Gandhi to apologise to the Election Commission and the country.
- Disputed issue
- Allegations of internal disagreements within the three-member Election Commission.
- Election Commission position
- It said decisions, including those involving the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, were unanimous.
- Letters in question
- The commission said letters sent by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi concerned an officer on deputation and a routine administrative matter.
- Court reference
- Sai referred to the Supreme Court's May 27 judgment on the Special Intensive Revision.
- Congress position
- Congress and other groups demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation after an investigation reported repeated objections by two commissioners.
Quotes
Vishnu Deo Sai
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and BJP leader
“If the electoral process is wrong, then Congress representatives should ask themselves whether their own election was also wrong.”
theprint.in
“Whenever Congress loses before the people, it starts making allegations against constitutional institutions out of frustration.”
theprint.in
Sources
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