Kapil Sibal Criticizes Election Commission Over Government Allegiance

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal attacked the Election Commission, accusing it of being controlled by the government, thus undermining democracy. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and TMC's Saugata Roy highlighted voter list issues, pointing to flaws such as identical EPIC numbers across states, raising questions about electoral transparency.

In a scathing critique, Rajya Sabha Member Kapil Sibal accused the Election Commission of India of being under the government's influence for an extended period. According to Sibal, this alignment threatens the very fabric of democracy, reducing it to a mere 'sham' if not addressed.

The criticism comes amid demands for discussions around the integrity of voter lists, a point echoed by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi emphasized the need for parliamentary debate on voter list discrepancies, an issue also raised by other opposition figures.

Concerns have been mounting over alleged voter list flaws, with TMC's Saugata Roy citing instances of identical EPIC numbers across states such as Haryana and West Bengal. Although the Election Commission clarified that similar EPIC numbers don't signify fraudulent votes, opposition leaders urge a comprehensive review to ensure electoral fairness ahead of pivotal elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)