Credibility Crisis: Election Commission Under Scrutiny

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma criticized the Election Commission for losing credibility and voters' trust, echoing concerns raised by Rahul Gandhi. Sharma highlighted issues such as electoral roll deletions and the indelible ink controversy in Maharashtra civic polls, urging the EC to address these to restore its impartiality.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has raised concerns about the credibility of the Election Commission (EC), claiming that it is losing the trust of the public. Sharma stressed the importance of addressing the issues highlighted by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Sharma emphasized the need for the EC to undergo a 'course correction' to restore its integrity, following Gandhi's comments accusing the EC of 'vote theft' and misleading citizens. This controversy stems from allegations regarding the quality of 'indelible' ink in Maharashtra civic polls, which opposition leaders said was easily removable, potentially facilitating fraudulent voting.

The Congress senior's remarks align with ongoing debates over the impartiality and effectiveness of the EC amid a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and other states, where large-scale deletions and alleged voter harassment have sparked fears of selective disenfranchisement. Sharma and other leaders call for the EC to address these issues transparently.

(With inputs from agencies.)