Munish Sood
Mandi
Former Himachal minister accuses Modi-Shah leadership of misusing central agencies and the Election Commission; calls for impartial probe into alleged vote theft and restoration of ballot paper voting
Senior Congress leader and former Himachal Pradesh minister Thakur Kaul Singh on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central government, alleging that democratic institutions were under threat and that the Election Commission was being used to serve the political interests of the ruling party. Addressing a press conference in Mandi, he demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for an impartial investigation into allegations of electoral irregularities and vote theft.
Kaul Singh alleged that the functioning of democratic institutions had come under increasing pressure since Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister. He claimed that central investigative agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax Department and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), were increasingly being deployed against political opponents, particularly around elections.
Targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Congress leader alleged that the Election Commission’s decisions had raised serious questions about the independence and credibility of the institution. He accused the BJP’s top leadership of using the Commission to advance its political interests and claimed that the electoral process was being compromised to secure victories for the ruling party.
SIR exercise and voting rights at the centre of dispute
Raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Kaul Singh alleged that the exercise had deprived a large number of people of their voting rights. Referring to the opposition’s claims concerning approximately 12–13 crore voters, he argued that the removal of eligible voters’ names, if established, would amount to a serious violation of democratic rights.
He questioned the manner in which electoral rolls were being revised and alleged that similar concerns had emerged in Bihar and West Bengal. He maintained that every eligible citizen must have the opportunity to exercise the constitutional right to vote and that any irregularities in the revision process should be independently investigated.
The Congress leader also criticised BJP leaders for defending the Election Commission against opposition allegations, arguing that an institution entrusted with conducting free and fair elections must be accountable and transparent.
Seeks impartial investigation, supports ballot paper voting
Kaul Singh called for a fair and impartial investigation into the opposition’s allegations of vote theft. He also reiterated the demand for a return to ballot paper voting, arguing that public confidence in the electoral process must be restored.
He alleged that the government was attempting to weaken democratic dissent and said citizens had the right to protest peacefully against decisions they considered unjust. Referring to the growing participation of young people in protests against the Election Commission, he accused the government of attempting to suppress the Gen Z movement rather than addressing its concerns.
The former minister further alleged that the country was experiencing a form of undeclared Emergency under the Modi-Shah leadership. He said that democratic institutions must remain independent of political influence and that the right to dissent should be protected.
Opposition takes its concerns to the President
The Mandi press conference comes amid an intensifying national political confrontation over the functioning of the Election Commission and the revision of electoral rolls. INDIA bloc leaders recently met President Droupadi Murmu and raised concerns over alleged vote theft, voter-list revisions and the conduct of the Chief Election Commissioner. The opposition has demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and sought judicial scrutiny of its allegations. The Election Commission and the BJP have disputed accusations that the revision exercise is politically motivated.
Kaul Singh maintained that electoral integrity was fundamental to the survival of democracy and that allegations involving the denial of voting rights could not be dismissed as routine political criticism.
He asserted that the country needed an electoral system in which every eligible voter could exercise their franchise without fear or discrimination, and called for accountability from those responsible for conducting elections.
