'EC is BJP's department': Congress slams poll body over 'vote chori'

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal criticized the EC's reluctance to use Aadhaar as identity proof despite a Supreme Court order

Rahul Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal (File) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with K.C. Venugopal

The Congress on Sunday accused the Election Commission of functioning as a department of the Bharatiya Janata Party and it was aiding the ruling party for 'vote chori'.  Congress said conducting free and fair elections was the primary duty of the Commission.

Talking to reporters in Odisha, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said, "We, the people of India, want a free and fair election from the ECI, which is the real duty of the Commission. However, the Commission has become a department of the BJP. It is no longer a neutral body. They are not doing the work neutrally."

The Congress leader alleged despite orders from the Supreme Court, the Commission is still reluctant to add Aadhar as an identity proof for special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. "SIR is being made for 'Vote Chori', not for democracy. That's why we are agitating," he added.

Venugopal said the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi  are reaching out to the people each day to talk about 'Vote Chori'. The Congress party has launched a massive campaign against the Election Commission, accusing it of working in favour of the BJP and manipulating electoral rolls in poll-bound states.

The Congress charges that the BJP won elections through 'vote chori'. Recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashw Yadav took out 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar, raking up vote theft charge against the poll body. 

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