Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das criticized Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of favoring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Das claimed that the ECI, under the current Commission, has been removing genuine voters from electoral rolls in various states, denying citizens their right to vote. He highlighted instances of voter exclusion in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and other states, alleging a systematic undermining of democratic rights.
Das also questioned the CEC’s moral authority, particularly criticizing his visits to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri during the ongoing electoral roll revision in Odisha. He emphasized that religious visits cannot compensate for administrative failures and called for accountability in the electoral process to restore public trust. Das demanded corrective action from the Election Commission and suggested that the CEC should resign if unable to ensure a free and fair electoral process.
In Odisha, Das pointed out a similar pattern of voter exclusion affecting eligible voters, especially from marginalized communities, ahead of the upcoming elections. He urged the Election Commission to rectify the situation and ensure a fair electoral process. The ongoing electoral roll revision in Odisha aims to update voter lists, eliminate duplicates, include eligible citizens, and streamline polling stations.
