EC is ‘enabling vote chori’: KC Venugopal sparks massive uproar in Parliament
In a heated sitting of Parliament on Tuesday, Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal levelled explosive allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming the body had “abandoned neutrality” and was now “enabling vote chori instead of preventing it.”
His remarks came during the ongoing debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a key point of contention in the Winter Session.
Venugopal said the opposition had repeatedly warned that changes to the process of appointing Election Commissioners had compromised the institution's independence.
“When the appointment system itself is tilted, what justice can we expect? Instead of stopping anti-national activities like vote theft, the EC is enabling it,” he said, triggering loud protests from treasury benches.
The Congress leader’s intervention followed earlier accusations by party MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, that the revision exercise could be misused to selectively alter voter lists ahead of upcoming elections.
Venugopal argued that several anomalies flagged by citizens, civil society groups, and regional parties had not been acted upon with urgency, raising “serious questions on intent.”
The government immediately rejected the allegations. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Congress of “manufacturing distrust to save its declining political relevance,” insisting that the SIR exercise was routine and transparent.
BJP MPs countered by saying Congress was “spreading fear” because it anticipated yet another electoral defeat.
Despite the pushback, Venugopal doubled down, accusing the ruling party of weakening democratic institutions. “Democracy survives only when institutions are fearless and fair. The EC must protect the voter, not the government in power,” he said. The comment led to another round of uproar, prompting the Chair to intervene and restore order.
The opposition has demanded that the EC make public all procedural details related to deletions, additions, and verifications conducted under SIR. Several parties also want an all-party committee to review the process.
The clash in Parliament underscores how electoral reforms have become the latest flashpoint between the government and the opposition during the Winter Session. With multiple elections slated over the next year, the debate around voter rolls and EC neutrality is expected to intensify.