Chief Sharad Pawar accused the BJP of undermining the Election Commission of India (ECI) by routinely responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's criticisms of the poll body, thereby eroding public trust in the institution. Pawar, a veteran politician and former Union minister, made the remarks during a press interaction in Pune, highlighting a pattern where BJP leaders, including the Maharashtra chief minister, counter Gandhi's concerns instead of the ECI itself addressing them.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has repeatedly questioned the ECI's integrity, most recently alleging "vote chori" (vote theft) in a parliamentary speech last week. He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of shielding those who "destroyed democracy," citing discrepancies in voter lists from assembly constituencies in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Gandhi claimed fraudulent deletions and additions of voters, pointing to data from specific polling stations to support his assertions. These allegations come amid broader opposition concerns over electoral transparency, especially following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the INDIA bloc accused the ECI of bias.

The ECI swiftly dismissed Gandhi's claims as "incorrect and baseless", clarifying that no voter deletions can occur online by the public and that electoral rolls are meticulously prepared with opportunities for verification. The commission emphasised its adherence to legal protocols, including Form 6 for additions and Form 7 for deletions, to prevent manipulation.

Despite this, Pawar argued that the BJP's immediate rebuttals—rather than a direct ECI clarification—create an impression of political interference, exacerbating mistrust in the constitutional body responsible for free and fair elections.

Also Read: Ex-CEC Questions Election Commission’s Response to Gandhi’s Complaints

Pawar's comments reflect deepening opposition unease with the ECI, established under Article 324 of the Constitution to oversee elections. As a key ally in the INDIA bloc, the NCP (SP) has joined calls for reforms, including greater transparency in voter data and the appointment of election commissioners.

The controversy underscores ongoing tensions ahead of state polls, with critics like Pawar warning that such responses politicise the ECI, potentially damaging India's democratic fabric. The BJP has yet to respond to Pawar's specific allegations, but party leaders have previously defended the ECI's independence.

Also Read: Congress Chief Accuses EC of Shielding Karnataka Voter Fraud