Congress Leader Criticizes CEC Gyanesh Kumar Over Voter Exclusion in Odisha
Strong Allegations Against the Election Commission
Bhubaneswar: The president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), Bhakta Charan Das, has sharply criticized Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, asserting that his visit to Lord Jagannath will not absolve the Election Commission of India (ECI) of its alleged misdeeds.
Das accused the ECI of acting as a mere extension of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming it has failed to uphold its constitutional duties.
In a press conference held in Bhubaneswar, he stated that the Commission is systematically eroding democratic rights by purging legitimate voters from electoral lists in various states.
"The current Commission has removed a significant number of voters from the rolls, infringing upon citizens' constitutional right to vote," Das remarked.
He provided statistics to support his claims, highlighting an unprecedented level of voter exclusion. "In Bihar, approximately 6.5 million voters were taken off the list. In Uttar Pradesh, nearly 30 million names were reportedly deleted from the electoral rolls due to court orders. Similar actions have been observed in several other states. This undermines democracy and strips the poor of their rights," he alleged.
Das also criticized the CEC for his three-day visit to Odisha, particularly his frequent trips to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state.
He questioned the moral integrity of the CEC, stating that religious visits cannot make up for administrative shortcomings.
"Visiting Lord Jagannath daily for darshan will not erase their wrongdoings. Lord Jagannath, the lord of the universe, observes everything. Their sins will not disappear," he added.
Focusing on Odisha, Das claimed that a similar trend of voter exclusion is occurring in the state.
He noted that many eligible voters, particularly from marginalized communities, have found their names missing from the updated electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming elections.
Demanding immediate accountability, the OPCC chief called for corrective measures from the Election Commission to restore public confidence.
"The CEC should take responsibility and resign if he cannot guarantee a free and fair electoral process. He must confront the truth, rectify the errors, and step down," Das stated.
The revision of electoral rolls in the state aims to update the lists for 33.2 million voters, eliminate duplicates, add eligible citizens, and optimize polling stations.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar is currently on a three-day visit to Odisha, which began on Saturday.