CEC Gyanesh Kumar Rejects ‘Vote Chori’ Charge, Calls It an Insult to the Constitution

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday dismissed allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) as political rhetoric, warning that such claims without proof insult both voters and the Constitution.

Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, the CEC outlined three scenarios for raising objections in electoral rolls.

• If a voter points out errors within the prescribed timeframe, they must submit Form 7.

• If mistakes are flagged after the deadline, the ECI considers it a political statement.

• If accusations of “theft” are made against voters and the commission after the deadline, it falls into a separate category of graded response.

Directly addressing Rahul Gandhi, who recently accused the EC of facilitating “vote theft,” Gyanesh Kumar said: “Are you calling my voters liars? If I don’t get the oath within 7 days, he will have to apologise. Otherwise, it means he is lying and has called my voters liars.”

The CEC described the use of the term vote chori as “unsuccessful efforts to mislead the voters” and “nothing less than an insult to the Constitution.” He stressed that the commission has always stood firmly with voters “from across sections and religions” and would continue to protect their rights.

Gyanesh Kumar also noted that Rahul Gandhi had provided no evidence of double voting. The commission had asked him to submit proof under oath, but the Congress leader responded that he had already sworn to uphold the Constitution as an MP and that the EC itself could verify the data he cited.