In a fiery press conference held in Patna on Monday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and INDIA bloc's chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of losing its neutrality and functioning under the direct influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Allegations of Electoral Manipulation
Tejashwi Yadav did not mince words, warning government officials of severe consequences if they were found colluding with the EC or Amit Shah to create disturbances during the electoral process. He firmly stated that any attempt at vote theft or electoral dishonesty would be met with strict action.
Expressing deep concern over the security arrangements, the RJD leader highlighted the deployment of 208 companies of security personnel from states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for election duties in Bihar. He further claimed that a staggering 68% of police observers were also from BJP-ruled states, questioning the motive behind this move. He alleged that outsiders, including Amit Shah, were attempting to control Bihar, an act he claimed the people of the state would never allow.
Criticism of PM Modi and Data Transparency
Shifting his focus to the Prime Minister's campaign, Tejashwi accused Narendra Modi of indulging in negative politics while ignoring critical issues plaguing the state, such as unemployment and migration. He criticized the PM's silence on corruption allegations against BJP leaders like Samrat Choudhary, Dilip Jaiswal, and Mangal Pandey, and questioned his association with other controversial figures.
The young leader also pointed out a procedural lapse, alleging that the Election Commission had failed to release gender-wise voter data from the first phase of polling held on November 6. He called this a departure from established practice, as such data is typically shared immediately after polling concludes.
Confident Victory and EC's Rebuttal
Displaying immense confidence in his alliance's prospects, Tejashwi Yadav made a significant announcement. The new INDIA bloc government will take the oath of office on November 18. He assured the public that his administration would not compromise on law and order and would take strict action against criminals, communal forces, and corruption.
Reacting to the allegations, Election Commission officials issued a sharp defense of their neutrality and transparency. They clarified that gender-wise turnout data is routinely published along with the final figures and confirmed that the first phase had recorded a voter turnout of 65.08%.
Officials provided a detailed breakdown of the security deployment, stating that 80% of the forces were from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), while the remaining 20% were drawn from the state armed police of 24 states, including non-BJP ruled states like Jharkhand, Telangana, Kerala, and Punjab. They emphasized that election observers were appointed proportionately from all states, irrespective of the ruling party, and that all strong rooms were under robust CCTV surveillance with prompt responses to any malfunctions.
