Bihar SIR row: EC rejects allegations of bias and 'vote chori', says all parties equal before poll body
Election Commission of India
(ECI) on Saturday dismissed allegations of bias in the electoral process, saying it treats ruling and opposition parties alike, as
Bihar SIR row
picks up steam.
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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
Gyanesh Kumar
said the poll body was committed to its constitutional duty and would not discriminate between political parties.
'The
Election Commission
wants to give a message to the voters. According to the Indian Constitution, persons completing 18 years should be a voter. You know that according to law, every political party has registration in the ECI, then how the ECI can discriminate, for the ECI, ruling parties and the opposition parties are equal. The ECI will never back down from its constitutional duties,' Kumar said at a press conference in Delhi.
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The statement comes after Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi alleged irregularities including 'vote chori' and accused the poll body of failing to ensure
fair elections
.
Responding indirectly to such claims, the Election Commission said, 'If making allegations of vote theft is not an insult to India's Constitution, then what else is it?'
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