"Controversial, didn't say anything concrete": Congress' Rajesh Thakur criticises CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], August 18 (ANI): Terming the Chief Election Commissioner's address as "controversial", Jharkhand Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said that the CEC talked about "irrelevant things" and did not say anything concrete.
Thakur, while speaking to ANI on Sunday, said, "The address by the Chief Election Commissioner is controversial in itself. He first clarified that we are not on anyone's side; we are equal for all. He did not say anything concrete."
Thakur questioned the CEC's comments on privacy and voting, arguing that there was an inconsistency in the way votes are televised.
"If voting is taking place, how is privacy violated? When the Prime Minister and other leaders go to vote, it is shown on camera, but when an ordinary leader goes to vote, and it is shown, it will be a violation of privacy. You are talking irrelevant things," he added.
Thakur's remarks come in the wake of heightened scrutiny of election procedures, transparency, and the conduct of poll authorities, with various parties seeking assurance that the Election Commission acts impartially after the press conference held by Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP V Sivadasan also criticised the Election Commission, alleging that the poll body failed to address questions posed by opposition parties in its recent press conference.
"The Election Commission did not answer any question raised by the opposition..." Sivadasan said, referencing the lack of substantive replies during the interaction.
Sivadasan also flagged concerns over the procedure for appointing Election Commission members, which he said now rests primarily with the Prime Minister and his colleagues.
"There are also concerns about the appointment process of the Election Commission, which is now done by the Prime Minister and his colleagues, reducing the sanctity and independence of the institution..." Sivadasan stated.
This comes amid heavy criticism of the ECI by the opposition parties over the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state of Bihar.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday assured that the officials of the Election Commission of India are working towards making Special Intensive Revision in Bihar a "huge success".
Gyanesh Kumar mentioned that the doors of the Election Commission are always open to everyone, and the poll body is working together with everyone in a "transparent" manner.
"The truth is that step by step all the stakeholders are committed, trying and working hard to make the SIR of Bihar a complete success. When more than seven crore voters of Bihar are standing with the Election Commission, then neither can any question mark be raised on the credibility of the Election Commission nor on the credibility of the voters," CEC Gyanesh Kumar said in a media briefing in the national capital.
He informed that 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLA) have prepared the draft voter list in Bihar and till now, the voters have submitted a total of 28,370 claims and objections. (ANI)