New Delhi [India], August 11 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas on Monday backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim against the Election Commission of India (ECI), and alleged that the poll body "has become the B team of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)" and should merge offices.
"It has been revealed that EC has become the B team of BJP. Running these both offices are costly, they should both merge offices, it is a costly affair," the CPM MP told ANI at Parliament premises, just before INDIA bloc MPs started their march to the ECI office.
"The very foundation of a fair election is now threatened, so if the government is serious about democracy, they should allow a full-fledged discussion in Parliament," he added.
Regarding the allegations of Opposition MPs disrupting Parliament functioning, he hit back at the Centre, saying "primary responsibility of running the parliament rests with the government, they do not want the parliament to function, they are sabotaging election, sabotaging opposition, now they are sabotaging parliamentary procedures."
On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes.
Meanwhile, after Sunday's notice issued by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka and the reminder from the CEO of Haryana, the Election Commission has once again reiterated its strict decision that Rahul Gandhi still has time to give a declaration on the first letter of the CEO of Karnataka and a reminder from the of CEO Haryana or apologise to the country.
The polling body further stated that upon preliminary inquiry, Shakun Rani has denied voting twice. The CEO's office also found that the tick-marked document presented by Rahul Gandhi was not issued by the polling officer, raising questions about the authenticity of the claim.