In a recent development, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is shielding those behind alleged “vote chori” by withholding crucial information. He shared a media report, which claimed an attempt to remove electors by forging Form 7 ahead of the Karnataka Assembly election in 2023 has yet to yield any progress due to the ECI’s unwillingness to share necessary data needed to apprehend the accused.
The Congress party president’s statement comes amidst ongoing concerns about electoral integrity and transparency in India. Previously, the ECI has dismissed similar accusations by the Congress as baseless. However, Kharge’s latest statement suggests a persistent concern that the ECI might be indirectly aiding electoral fraud by withholding essential information related to alleged vote manipulation.
The specific media report shared by Kharge alleges that an attempt was made to remove electors by forging Form 7, which is used for updating and revising the electoral rolls. This case, according to the report, has remained stagnant since the ECI has yet to provide the critical data required to identify and apprehend the accused.
At the time of writing, there was no immediate response from the Election Commission regarding Kharge’s allegations. The BJP, which is currently in power, has not made any official statement on this matter.
This latest development follows a series of controversies surrounding the ECI and allegations of electoral fraud, with the Congress party accusing the commission of bias in favor of the ruling BJP. The opposition party has also raised concerns about the integrity of India’s electoral process, citing instances of voter suppression, misuse of power, and lack of transparency.
The debate surrounding electoral reform and transparency is not new to India, with both the Congress and BJP trading accusations for several years. As the country gears up for crucial state elections in various states and the general elections in 2026, the issue of electoral integrity is likely to remain a focal point of political discourse.
