Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishi sharply criticized the Election Commission of India (EC) for its handling of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” allegations, asserting that the poll body should have ordered an investigation rather than “shouting” at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) with “objectionable and offensive” language. Speaking ahead of the launch of his book Democracy’s Heartland by Juggernaut Books, Quraishi expressed deep concern over the EC’s response, warning that it risks undermining public trust in India’s electoral process.

Quraishi, who served as CEC from 2010 to 2012, took issue with the EC’s demand that Gandhi submit an affidavit to substantiate his claims of voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura assembly segment, where Gandhi alleged over 1 lakh votes were “stolen” through manipulations like duplicate voters and fake addresses. “Rahul Gandhi is the LoP, representing millions. To say, ‘give an affidavit or else,’ is not the EC we’ve known,” Quraishi said, calling for a probe to address such serious complaints. “Not only must we be fair, but we must appear to be fair.”

The former CEC dismissed Gandhi’s use of terms like “hydrogen bomb” as “political rhetoric” but stressed that the underlying allegations demand thorough investigation to satisfy not just the opposition but the entire nation. He also criticized the EC’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, calling it a “pandora’s box” and a “hornet’s nest” that could damage the EC’s credibility. Quraishi questioned the exclusion of the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) from voter registration documents, noting that rebuilding the voter list in three months risks undoing decades of meticulous work by the EC.

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Reflecting on his tenure, Quraishi emphasized his practice of prioritizing opposition parties, as they are “underdogs” compared to the ruling party. “I told my staff to throw open the doors, listen to them, and address their concerns immediately,” he said, lamenting that 23 opposition parties now claim they cannot secure EC appointments. He also highlighted the public’s shaken confidence in the electoral process, urging the EC to introspect and resist external pressures to maintain its impartiality.

The controversy stems from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s August 2025 press conference, where he demanded Gandhi provide an affidavit within seven days or apologize for his “vote chori” claims, dismissing them as baseless otherwise. Gandhi’s allegations, backed by a presentation citing EC data, have fueled protests, including his Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar against the SIR. Quraishi’s remarks underscore the need for transparency and accountability to restore trust in the EC, as India’s democratic institutions face growing scrutiny.

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