Tejashwi Yadav Demands Fresh Polls in Bihar and West Bengal Over CEC Report

Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday demanded fresh elections in Bihar and West Bengal, alleging that a report on the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) had exposed how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was undermining the Constitution and democratic institutions.

Speaking to the media at his official residence in Patna, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national working president said serious questions had emerged from the report, and noted that both Election Commissioners had lodged complaints about the working style of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Mr. Yadav asked why there was silence over the concerns raised by the two commissioners and said the CEC should come forward and respond to them. He alleged that a press release issued by the ECI was drafted at the behest of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and claimed the report showed the Chief Election Commissioner enjoyed the BJP's patronage.

Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Mr. Yadav said the RJD was the first to raise questions during the exercise in Bihar and had approached the Supreme Court. He alleged that the SIR was implemented arbitrarily across the country, including in Bihar and West Bengal, and that the Commission abused its authority to help the BJP win elections. He further alleged that the Commission altered rules to eliminate evidence after a complaint was filed against the CEC's actions.

The RJD leader also criticised changes to the process for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner, saying the role once played by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had been replaced by the inclusion of a Union Minister under the Narendra Modi government.

Mr. Yadav alleged that elections in Bihar were conducted fraudulently and that the BJP and its allies secured exactly the number of seats that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Shah had expected. He claimed money continued to be deposited into women's accounts until voting day, and that the ECI ignored the Opposition's concerns.

Citing the 1995 Supreme Court ruling that the three Election Commissioners hold equal jurisdiction and status, he accused the Chief Election Commissioner of undermining the authority of the other two commissioners. He said the results in Bihar and West Bengal were declared on the basis of lists provided by Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah, and demanded re-election in both States.

Mr. Yadav also said the CEC had neither responded to the allegations made by the two Election Commissioners nor offered any clarification. He urged the public to remove Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah, alleging they had manipulated constitutional institutions to serve their own agenda.