Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 17 : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud on Sunday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the poll body was "talking like a political party" amid the ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar.
Speaking to ANI, TPCC President said, " The Election Commission is talking like a political party. This is very wrong in a democratic country. ECI is talking like a part of the BJP."
He further stated that the Election Commission should respond to the questions raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi rather than making political statements.
"Whatever Rahul is revealing, ECI should answer them first. They are not answering this...ECI's duty is to clarify the questions asked by Rahul Gandhi, but they are talking like a political party. We are against this and condemn them," Goud said.
The Congress party is currently undertaking a 16-day 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' across several states, alleging large-scale voter fraud and accusing the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "vote chori" (vote theft). The yatra was launched from Sasaram in Bihar on Sunday and includes participation from senior leaders such as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Pawan Khera, and Kanhaiya Kumar.
Addressing the rally earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his accusations against the Election Commission and vowed to expose alleged electoral irregularities.
"The entire country knows what the Election Commission is doing. Earlier, the country did not know how votes were being stolen. But we made it clear in the press conference how votes are being stolen. Whenever the theft is happening, whether in Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal, we will catch the thief and work to show the people," Rahul Gandhi said.
He described Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as a "conspiracy" by the Election Commission, adding that the 'vote theft has been exposed' and the Opposition will fight against the alleged stealing of elections.
"I am telling you from this stage that Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections are being stolen in the entire country. Their latest conspiracy is to conduct SIR in Bihar and steal the Bihar elections as well by cutting the new votes and adding fake ones. All of us have come to this stage to tell you that we will not let them steal this election," he added.
Highlighting the role of the poor in defending electoral integrity, he added, "Bihar's population will not let this theft happen. Why? Because poor people only have the vote, and we will not let vote chori happen."