Nana Patole accuses CEC Gyanesh Kumar of working for BJP, hits out at Fadnavis

Senior Congress leader Nana Patole has levelled serious allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. With the political climate heated over Kumar's role in the country, Patole said Kumar is working in favour of the BJP. He also targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, claiming that Fadnavis is defending Kumar.

Speaking to the media, Patole said Rahul Gandhi has presented cases of "vote chori" (vote theft) with evidence. He alleged that the Election Commission is being used to work in a way that benefits the BJP. According to Patole, if the alleged irregularities in the matter come to light, the BJP will be in trouble, which is why BJP chief ministers and ministers are defending Kumar.

Patole said the Election Commission is autonomous, but Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has tied it to the BJP's pressure. In his words, Kumar is acting at the behest of Narendra Modi and is committing the sin of destroying democracy and the Constitution. Patole said there is an unholy alliance between Kumar and the BJP, which is why BJP chief ministers rushed to his defence as soon as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi exposed the Election Commission's corrupt functioning. Responding to Fadnavis, Patole said it is the BJP chief minister's own mind that has actually been stolen.

Questioning Kumar's functioning, Patole also raised the changes made to Form 6 for voter registration. He alleged that the names of lakhs of young people and of voters from different castes and religions are being deliberately removed.

Patole also referred to the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in West Bengal. Some reports say a large number of names were deleted and many cases were heard. It is also reported that two Election Commission commissioners recorded objections to the process. The Election Commission has clarified that internal differences are common in the decision-making process. The commission has also taken steps to review the process of changing the electoral rolls.

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the MNS are holding marches against Kumar. Asked about this, Patole said the Congress stands with the parties and organisations fighting to protect democracy and the Constitution. He made clear that the Congress also supports the movements demanding Kumar's removal from office.

Patole said, "We are with every party or organisation that is fighting to save democracy and the Constitution. There is no reason to oppose anyone who is coming forward in this fight. Vote theft and fixing are happening, and the people of the country have started a fight against it. This is only the beginning; the fight is big and will go on. The Congress party is with those who are fighting to remove Gyanesh Kumar from office."