Sachin Pilot demands CEC's resignation over alleged 'vote chori'

Sachin Pilot demanded the CEC's resignation while opposing any immediate election boycott. His remarks intensified the Opposition's protests and legal challenge over alleged electoral irregularities.

In Short

• Opposition parties have approached Supreme Court challenging SIR and alleged irregularities
• Pilot said police action cannot suppress young demonstrators' democratic voices
• He compared allegedly compromised elections to watching a fixed match

Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot has described Narendra Modi as a “soon-to-be former prime minister” and said police action cannot silence young people protesting against alleged “vote chori”. He demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar but rejected talk of boycotting elections, saying it was “too early” for such a step.

Pilot said the protests had given fresh energy to opposition parties, which have approached the Supreme Court over the issue. He accused the Election Commission of acting to further a political agenda and said the Opposition would continue its protests and legal challenge against the SIR process and alleged electoral irregularities.

In an interview with PTI Videos, Pilot compared elections to a fixed match. “If the match is fixed and the umpire is fixed, what is the point of watching any match when viewers know, players know and the world knows that this is all fixed? Then where is the joy in conducting any match? Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game; all we want is a fair fight. If the election commissioner cannot ensure that, then he has to go,” he said.

Pilot said the Congress had full faith in the judiciary. Congress leaders and representatives of other INDIA bloc parties have filed a petition in the Supreme Court over the alleged “vote chori”.

“The Supreme Court is the ultimate authority. We thought we must appeal to his moral conscience first. To demonstrate, hold dharnas and undertake padyatras is part of democracy. How can you stop people from protesting? How can you use brute police force to subjugate the voice of the people?” he said.

Pilot said no amount of police action, firing or lathi charge could quell the people’s voice, adding that young people were now speaking out. Referring to paper leaks and alleged irregularities in examinations such as NEET, he said, “Public pressure forced the education minister to resign.”

He alleged that the CEC had acted illegally and should resign and face legal proceedings. “People say it is a constitutional body. In this country, if there can be a resignation of a vice-president, then why not of the CEC?” he asked.

Pilot said Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the CEC was serving a particular purpose and was being directed by those behind it. “It is being done to suit a particular political agenda,” he added.

During a rapid-fire segment, Pilot described Modi as a “soon-to-be former prime minister”. Asked whether Gandhi, who is leading the movement against alleged “vote chori”, was the Opposition’s prime ministerial face for 2029, Pilot said Gandhi had never stated that he was seeking the post.

“He is the Leader of the Opposition, and parties in the INDIA bloc or those against the BJP are working under his leadership in Parliament. It was Mr Rahul Gandhi who, from day one, had been questioning the voter list, the electoral process and the SIR. He led from the front, was unflinching and did not back down. The BJP was mocking him, and now, when the truth is unravelling, people are realising that what Mr Gandhi had said was true and good for the country,” Pilot said.

Asked about Cockroach Janta Party and AISA president Neha Bora raising their voices against alleged “vote chori”, Pilot said any patriotic Indian who believed in the idea of India and wanted justice and truth to prevail was part of the fight. “Whether it is the INDIA bloc, non-BJP parties, civil society or other organisations, we all have to come together,” he said.

Pilot said it was a challenging time not only for the Opposition but for everyone because, in his view, institutions had gradually and consistently been captured. He said elections had always produced winners and losers, but alleged that several institutions, particularly the Election Commission, had lost their independence.

“There is a reason why India is cited as the most thriving, deep-rooted democracy, and that has been because various governments since Independence have nurtured the independence and transparency of the Election Commission,” he said.

Pilot claimed Gandhi had presented facts and figures about two years ago on problems in the electoral system and that two election commissioners later said developments within the poll body were not fully in accordance with the law. “What baffles me is that when you ask questions of the Election Commission, it is the BJP spokesperson who gives answers, which has never happened before. We are fighting to protect the future generation’s faith in how we conduct elections,” he said.

Referring to the appointment process for the CEC, Pilot said the selection committee had traditionally included the prime minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. He said the BJP government changed the law to replace the Chief Justice with a Cabinet minister, giving the government a two-one majority.

“Then, a law was made that gave CEC Gyanesh Kumar lifetime immunity. He is the only man among 140 crore people to have immunity for life. We went to the Supreme Court, which stated that the Congress should get authenticated voter lists. As soon as that order came out, the Election Commission retrospectively changed its bylaws to withhold them,” he alleged.

Asked about the Election Commission’s claim that all decisions were unanimous, Pilot said its press release had been signed by a low-ranking officer and did not carry the signatures of the election commissioners who had dissented.

Pilot’s remarks came amid protests by opposition parties and the CJP over the SIR issue. On Monday, opposition leaders, activists and civil society members held a “March for Democracy” along a heavily barricaded route to the Supreme Court and filed a joint petition against SIR and alleged electoral irregularities.

Gandhi hosted INDIA bloc leaders for tea at his home on Tuesday. After the meeting, the Opposition alliance vowed to continue its resistance and take the fight over alleged “vote chori” to its logical conclusion. Pilot reiterated that the Opposition would pursue its protests and legal challenge while continuing to participate in elections.

- Ends