{
  "id": 14063196,
  "title": "‘Why Does BJP Rush To Defend Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?’: Mumbai Congress Chief Varsha Gaikwad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/why-does-bjp-rush-to-defend-chief-election-commissioner-gyanesh-kumar",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T22:26:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/why-does-bjp-rush-to-defend-chief-election-commissioner-gyanesh-kumar-mumbai-congress-chief-varsha-gaikwad"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai Congress head Varsha Gaikwad on Monday raised concerns about the BJP's swift defense of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar when questions were raised about his conduct. Gaikwad questioned the BJP's relationship with the Chief Election Commissioner, asking why the party felt compelled to respond to criticisms aimed at Kumar. This came as INDIA bloc leaders and party workers, under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, marched towards the Supreme Court to voice their grievances over alleged electoral malpractices. Gaikwad, along with other Mumbai Congress leaders, MPs, and MLAs, took part in the protest.\n\nWhile acknowledging that questioning constitutional authorities and organizing protests were fundamental democratic rights, Gaikwad alleged that the BJP was quick to defend the Election Commission whenever questions arose about its functioning. She accused Kumar of showing favoritism towards the BJP, suggesting that the poll panel was not functioning independently. Gaikwad claimed that electoral irregularities had favored the ruling party, alleging that the Narendra Modi government had been elected through vote fraud. She further claimed that the Congress had raised concerns about alleged vote fraud before the Election Commission but had not received satisfactory answers.\n\nGaikwad also alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process could deny 13 crore citizens their voting rights. She held Kumar accountable for what she described as the Chief Election Commissioner's arbitrary actions, suggesting that he was acting under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's direction. Gaikwad vowed that the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies would continue their campaign against electoral malpractices and seek accountability from the Election Commission and the government.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, October 12, 2026: Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad on Monday questioned the BJP’s response to criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, asking, “Why does the BJP rush to answer questions directed at Gyanesh Kumar? What is the relationship between the BJP and Gyanesh Kumar?” Her remarks came as INDIA bloc leaders and workers, under the leadership of Leader of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}