'If pardoned for one murder, I'd shoot Gyanesh': VIP chief targets CEC over SIR row

NEW DELHI: Former Bihar minister Mukesh Sahani, the chief of Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), declared that if he were granted a pardon for a single murder, his first act of vengeance would be against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This declaration surfaced amidst ongoing disputes related to the Election Commission's operations.

Accusing the Election Commission of functioning at the BJP's behest, Sahani warned that anyone involved could face jail time if the opposition emerged victorious in 2029. The Election Commission has allegedly become a tool for the BJP, and Sahani emphasized the importance of upholding the nation's Constitution. He stated that in the years ahead, such individuals will face consequences, and during the upcoming government led by Rahul Gandhi ji, Gyanesh Kumar would be the first person to be imprisoned for his alleged wrongdoings.

Sahani's remarks followed an Indian Express report that revealed disagreements within the poll panel concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to the report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected to decisions regarding electoral-roll procedures on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period.

Despite these concerns, the Election Commission denied allegations, stating that their actions constituted standard internal functioning aimed at maintaining legal compliance and protecting voter rights. The Commission claimed that all its decisions, including those related to SIR, were backed by legal authority and unanimously approved.

This revelation sparked intense reactions from opposition parties, who called for greater transparency in the Election Commission's decision-making process and questioned Gyanesh Kumar's conduct. The BJP, however, defended the Election Commission, asserting that internal deliberations were an integral part of democratic functioning.