Mumbai: An investigative report published by The Indian Express on the internal functioning of the Election Commission has created a stir across the country and raised questions over the entire electoral process. Expressing serious concern over the matter, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Dr. Syed Zeeshan Ahmed said that the report has exposed the alleged functioning of the Modi government and the Election Commission and has further strengthened the questions raised by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, regarding “vote theft” in the electoral process.

Dr. Zeeshan Ahmed said the investigative report by The Indian Express revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally recorded objections to several decisions of the Commission at least 14 times over the past 10 months. These objections reportedly included issues related to the registration of new voters, deletion of names from electoral rolls and the management of voter data.

He said the revelations point to serious questions regarding transparency and accountability in the electoral process. He added that Rahul Gandhi had raised questions from the very beginning about suspected changes in electoral rolls and voters’ rights, and had sought answers from the government and the Election Commission. Now that reports have emerged of objections from within the Election Commission itself regarding certain decisions, Rahul Gandhi’s concerns cannot be ignored.

Praising Rahul Gandhi, Dr. Zeeshan said that despite pressure, he had consistently raised the issue of protecting people’s right to vote and safeguarding democratic institutions, while attempting to bring the truth before the country.

Dr. Zeeshan Ahmed alleged that questions have been raised regarding the functioning of the Election Commission and the alleged misuse of its powers and arbitrary actions during the tenure of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and said that the people of the country deserve answers. He said any irregularity in elections is not merely a loss for a political party but an attack on the democratic rights of hundreds of millions of Indians. If a constitutional institution interferes with the rights of voters, he said, it is tantamount to treason against the country.

He demanded an independent and impartial investigation into all the issues highlighted in the report and called for complete transparency to restore public confidence in the electoral system.

Dr. Syed Zeeshan Ahmed further said that the impartiality of constitutional institutions is the greatest guarantee of the country’s democracy. However, if voices of dissent and allegations of irregularities begin emerging from within an important institution such as the Election Commission, public confidence in the electoral system may begin to erode.

He stressed that the Congress party stands with the people in the struggle to protect democracy and the Constitution and will continue to raise its voice, from the streets to Parliament, until transparency in the electoral process is restored.