New Delhi, August 17 (HS): Responding to a volley of accusations from opposition parties, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday firmly asserted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) maintains absolute neutrality. “For the Commission, all political parties are equal—there is no favour and no prejudice. Our doors are open to everyone, and neither baseless allegations nor political pressure will deter us. Nor will voters be swayed by such claims,” he stated during a press conference at the National Media Centre, New Delhi.

Kumar revealed that a special intensive revision of the electoral roll has already begun in Bihar to ensure accuracy and transparency. Expressing concern over the narratives being pushed by certain political leaders, he remarked that “either the genuine voices of district-level party workers are not reaching the state and national leadership, or deliberate attempts are being made to spread misinformation.”

The CEC further noted that complaints had been received about the unauthorized use of voters’ photographs but assured the public that the ECI “will stand like a rock beside every voter.” Reinforcing the Commission’s commitment, he assured that upcoming elections would be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

Elaborating on the function of the institution, Kumar reminded that every political party in India is born through registration with the Election Commission itself. “If the ECI is the body that registers all parties, how can it discriminate between them? For us, each political outfit is the same. Regardless of who they are, the Commission will never step back from its constitutional mandate,” he affirmed.

So far, 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) have compiled a draft voter list across constituencies. These lists, he emphasized, were validated and signed off by agents belonging to every political party. In the ongoing revision process, voters have already filed 28,370 claims and objections, reflecting active participation in ensuring the integrity of the rolls.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar