New Delhi, 06 October (H.S.): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra has hit back at the Congress over its allegations concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the controversy surrounding Form 6. He alleged that the Congress and some of its allies were targeting democratic and constitutional institutions in an attempt to politically establish Rahul Gandhi. Patra discussed the issue at a press conference on Tuesday.

Sambit Patra said the campaign had been going on for years, alleging that the Army, the Supreme Court, Hindus, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and, now, the Election Commission had been targeted at different times. He alleged that efforts were being made to create confusion and distrust regarding the Election Commission.

The BJP leader also referred to the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Sambit Patra said Kumar assumed office as Chief Election Commissioner on February 19, 2025. The 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and even the 2024 Lok Sabha election, had already been held before he took charge as CEC.

Sambit Patra said that, therefore, it would not be factually correct to attribute the BJP’s victories in the 2014, 2019 or 2024 Lok Sabha elections to Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner. However, he noted that Kumar had been part of the Election Commission as an Election Commissioner since March 2024 and had served in that capacity during the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Sambit Patra also presented the party’s position on the ongoing controversy surrounding Form 6. He said that various misconceptions and alleged fake news had been circulating in recent days regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Referring to a petition seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner before the Supreme Court and the notice issued in connection with it, Patra said that the issuance of a notice was part of the judicial process and did not mean that the allegations made in the petition had been established as true.

Sambit Patra said the Congress had levelled serious allegations over changes to Form 6 and was using the issue as the basis for a campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner. He said the outcome of the judicial proceedings should be awaited.

The BJP leader also referred to a statement by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in which he had alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had made purportedly unlawful and unilateral changes to Form 6 and had misused his office to benefit the BJP.

Sambit Patra said it was important to place all the facts before the public regarding such allegations. According to him, in matters involving constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission and the Supreme Court, a distinction must be maintained between political allegations and facts established through judicial proceedings.

Sambit Patra also questioned the Congress’s position on EVMs. He said the Congress was now demanding a return to ballot-paper voting, even though the legal framework for the use of EVMs had been created through amendments to election law in 1989 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Sambit Patra asked whether slogans would also be raised against Rajiv Gandhi if marches were now being organised against EVMs.

Sambit Patra said political parties had a responsibility to place before the public the facts relating to proceedings before the Election Commission and the Supreme Court. He said that before making allegations against any constitutional institution, it was essential to understand the available facts and the complete legal process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar