NEW DELHI, September 24, 2026 – Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a scathing attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday, demanding his immediate resignation amid escalating controversies over the integrity of the electoral process. Addressing a high-stakes press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi accused the CEC of acting against the interests of the nation and described him as a “traitor” or “desh-drohi,” asserting that anyone who fundamentally destroys India’s voting system and democratic institutions must face punishment. The aggressive posture followed recent media reports highlighting internal friction within the Election Commission of India (ECI), specifically revealing that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period regarding decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Gandhi commended the two dissenting commissioners for doing a “wise thing” and urged Kumar to seriously consider turning an approver in the interest of the country, while reiterating his longstanding allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) and the rigging of recent elections.
Broadening his attack, the Congress leader pointed directly at the highest levels of the government, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were the primary conspirators behind the systematic manipulation of the electoral architecture and warned that they would eventually be investigated for their roles. To substantiate his claims of a compromised system, Gandhi questioned the sudden disappearance of the anti-incumbency factor—a fundamental democratic force—in critical states such as Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, arguing that while a government’s performance or a leader’s popularity can be understood, the complete absence of anti-incumbency across these regions defies political logic. Emphasizing the catastrophic consequences of election manipulation, he articulated a grim progression from “vote chori” to “kanoon chori” and finally “sanstha chori,” warning that if the sanctity of the vote is destroyed, the Constitution loses its power, rendering all laws illegal and democratic institutions entirely meaningless. Promising to sustain the political momentum against the alleged electoral malpractice, Gandhi declared that the opposition will not remain silent and announced that the Congress party intends to hold nationwide protest marches to state Election Commission offices to protect the nation’s democratic framework.
Published by True Roots Media Network