New Delhi, Dec 10 (UNI) The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a fierce debate on election reforms with the Opposition demanding greater electoral integrity and accusing the ruling party of undermining democratic processes. Congress leader KC Venugopal launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, alleging it has become partisan and is enabling “vote chori” (vote theft).
He asserted, “The idea of an impartial electoral umpire has been openly crushed,” emphasising that the right to vote is a fundamental democratic principle, not a privilege granted by any government. Venugopal also highlighted concerns over large-scale deletion of voters in Bihar and the freezing of Congress party accounts ahead of the 2024 elections, describing these moves as politically motivated.
Responding robustly, BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Opposition of applying double standards, stating, “When they win, the Election Commission is fine, but when we win, they claim it’s flawed.”
He questioned whether infiltrators should be allowed on electoral rolls and pointed out that the Congress had no complaints during Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya further criticised Rahul Gandhi, labelling him a “Non-resident Indian politician” and called on the opposition to show more responsibility.
Speaking against SIR, TMC’s Shatabdi Roy said that people were harassed during the SIR process in West Bengal leading to violence.
Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav called for a return to paper ballots to safeguard sactity of elections in the country.
In contrast, Minister Anupriya Patel defended SIR as a necessary measure to identify illegal residents, accusing the Opposition of protecting infiltrators and attempting to weaken the Election Commission.
BJP’s Kangana Ranaut praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, saying, “He doesn’t hack EVMs but hearts,” while lamenting the Opposition’s disruptions in the parliament.
Meanwhile, various regional party representatives urged cleaner electoral processes and safeguards to protect innocent voters from undue pressure.
As the debate continues, all eyes are on union Home Minister Amit Shah’s concluding remarks on the debate.
