NEW DELHI: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday, criticizing the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Accusing the EC of bias, Yadav claimed it had become a “cheerleader” for the ruling BJP.
“When two teams play a match, the umpire must remain neutral. But today, the EC has been reduced to nothing more than a cheerleader,” Yadav said while speaking to reporters.
He further alleged that the poll body’s credibility is eroding, stating, “The EC’s reputation is getting tarnished with every election.” Taking to social media platform X, Yadav intensified his attack, calling the EC a “cancer for democracy and the Constitution.”
Recalling the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the RJD leader accused the EC of manipulating results by delaying vote counting. “We were leading, but the counting was halted. Results were announced late at night, leading to narrow defeats for many of our candidates. Several challenged the outcomes in court, but the EC remained unmoved,” he alleged. Yadav also pledged to eliminate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from the election process if his party came to power at the Centre.
Backing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s stance, Yadav echoed concerns over Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment, calling it “executive overreach.”
Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had earlier criticized the government’s decision, stating, “Appointing the CEC while the matter is under Supreme Court review is an insult to democracy. It is my duty to uphold Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s ideals and protect our Constitution.”
Gandhi further accused the Centre of rushing the appointment ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing on electoral reforms, claiming the government disregarded calls for an independent selection process free from political influence.
