Kejriwal Criticizes Election Commission for Alleged Bias Towards BJP
Kejriwal's Strong Condemnation of the Election Commission
On Wednesday, Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, expressed his strong disapproval of the Election Commission of India (ECI), asserting that it is operating under the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His remarks followed a meeting with a delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which claimed they were assured that the upcoming elections in the state would be free from fear, violence, threats, inducements, and raids.
Kejriwal took to social media to emphasize that it is now evident that the Election Commission is taking direct orders from the BJP, a situation he described as unfortunate. He urged the Commission to maintain its integrity and not tarnish its reputation through such actions.
The recent post on social media sparked significant backlash against the Election Commission, particularly after TMC MP Derek O'Brien alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner had asked their delegation to leave within five minutes. Reports indicate that the discussion escalated into a heated argument, with O'Brien reportedly shouting at the Chief Election Commissioner to refrain from responding.
The TMC delegation claimed that despite sending multiple letters regarding election processes, they received no responses. Party leaders stated they had submitted nine letters and provided six examples of their concerns, yet the Commission remained unresponsive.
According to sources, TMC leaders expressed their disappointment over the lack of engagement from the Commission, accusing it of ignoring their concerns. O'Brien noted that within just seven minutes of the meeting, the Chief Election Commissioner instructed them to leave, highlighting the TMC's position as the second-largest opposition party in Parliament. The meeting reportedly concluded abruptly, with officials asking the delegation to exit, which TMC leaders deemed disrespectful and detrimental to the Commission's functioning.