- 38 minutes ago
A major political showdown has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress over alleged internal dissent within the Election Commission of India. Speaking on To The Point, Congress National Spokesperson Adil Singh Boparai claimed that the controversy is not merely about dissent or disagreement, but represents a serious institutional breakdown. Demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Boparai alleged that unilateral decisions were made regarding statutory Form 6 without proper authorization, stating: 'This is an act of fraud and forgery, and it must be called that.' Responding to the allegations, BJP National Spokesperson Radhika Khera dismissed the opposition's claims as political posturing, noting that administrative file notes and deliberations are normal government procedures rather than dissent. She defended the commission's institutional credibility and criticized the Congress for raising allegations ahead of elections.
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00:00Now, while the focus remains on the Election Commission, this has become a huge political showdown,
00:04especially between the Bharatiya Janata Party as a ruling party and the Congress as opposition.
00:09So let's debate and discuss and understand what exactly is happening in this case.
00:13Joining me on the panel this evening on To The Point, Radhika Khera as a national spokesperson of the Bharatiya
00:18Janata Party,
00:19Adil Singh Bhoparai, national spokesperson of the Congress Party, who's also an advocate,
00:23so will help us understand the legal part of it beyond politics as well.
00:26Also on the day that the Congress Party has launched nationwide agitation,
00:31targeting not just the CEC, but also the BJP.
00:35Adil, I'll begin first with you, because the one issue, and let's go one by one.
00:38Now, one issue that many people would want to know, that we are talking about primarily,
00:43the big complaint from that Indian Express report, is about, and what the reactions have also come,
00:49is about the internal dissent, that especially the two election commissioners on several issues,
00:54especially the SIR, have either disagreed or raised objections.
00:58But many are also asking, isn't that a part of democracy too?
01:02There are politicians who have had, within parties, internal dissent and the views.
01:07There have been several other occasions in the judiciary.
01:10The judges have had dissenting views.
01:12Editors have dissenting views in the same newsroom.
01:15So, how is this such a big issue and allegation against the CEC?
01:19Adil.
01:20Pooja, I would say the very existence of democracy in this country today is under threat.
01:26But let me deal with the point which you've raised.
01:29This is not about dissent or disagreement.
01:32There is a fraudulent enterprise which is underway at the election commission of India.
01:37This is not a case where two election commissioners disagreed with one chief election commissioner
01:45during the process of note-making.
01:47This is a case where unilateral orders are being passed in the teeth of objections
01:53by the majority of the election commissioners.
01:56Now, please see what the statute says.
01:59The statute says that decisions have to be taken by majority.
02:02Correct.
02:04At the least by majority, ideally by unanimity.
02:06What is happening now, in the case of Form 6 and what you've raised, decisions are being
02:12taken unilaterally by one election commissioner and misrepresenting that this has the authority
02:19of the election commission of India.
02:21This is something very, very serious.
02:24This is an act of fraud.
02:26Apart from the fact that there is manipulation of voter lists, this is an act of fraud.
02:31And hence, the Congress party's demand that this gentleman must be prosecuted and at the
02:37very least, he must tender his resignation.
02:41His continuation, Pooja, as the chief election commissioner is untenable.
02:46But the election commission statement officially, if we quote from that, says, before I go across
02:50to the BJP, is that the decisions were taken unanimously, is what the election commission maintains.
02:56And that there is nothing that has been used as an overpower.
03:00I'll address that.
03:01I'll address that before you go to my friend Radhika.
03:03Yes.
03:03Now, as far as Form 6 is concerned, let's deal one by one.
03:07Form 6 is concerned.
03:08One of the election commissioners said, when he learned, when he learned subsequently from
03:13the officers in the state that Form 6 has been changed, he said that this is absolutely
03:18unauthorized and illegal.
03:19Illegal, yes.
03:20In other words, he did not even have the knowledge that Form 6 has been changed by one individual
03:26whose name is Gyanesh Gupta, who had no authority whatsoever.
03:30However, point number one, point number two, Mr. Sandhu and Mr. Joshi learned from the chief
03:36electoral officer in Bengal and Goa that the EROs, who are the SDMs, do not have access
03:43to the voter database.
03:45This is unprecedented.
03:47Please understand, this is not about disagreement in a studio or disagreement amongst politicians.
03:53This is an act of fraud and forgery, and it must be called that.
03:59All right, so that is one issue that you say that it's primarily because of the authority
04:04that was misused.
04:05Not disputed, not rebutted by the election commission in their rest of the years.
04:10Okay, Adil, let's go across to BJP because then the BJP people are not giving them time.
04:14Radhika, I have a question apart from what you want to answer to Adil.
04:18It's also, why is the BJP defending the chief election commissioner?
04:22It's an independent body, and I'm sure the CEC, if he wishes, can speak for himself as
04:27a senior officer.
04:28Why is the BJP doing the press conferences?
04:33Bande Matram.
04:34Pooja, let's start with your question and then get to what Mr. Adil said and what happened
04:39in the press conference.
04:40Now, you asked, why is the BJP defending?
04:43A, we are not the spokespersons of the election commission.
04:45They are a free, fair body.
04:46They are free to decide what they want to do, how they want to take, whether they want
04:50to do a case, whether they want to respond, what they want to write.
04:53But yesterday, when Rahul Gandhi conducted the press conference, this was the backdrop.
04:58And he accused Prime Minister Srinya Narendra Modi ji and the BJP of using the election commission
05:03as a tool to win elections and to undermine democracy.
05:07So, we categorically just answered the part that were directed at us.
05:10So, if you are going to go on and do a press conference and blame the Bharatiya Chanda
05:14party, our spokesperson came and he did a press conference and he gave a pointed reply.
05:20Having said that, now when Rahul Gandhi tweeted, I'm sure everyone saw that at 3pm, he tweeted
05:25that he was going to do a presser at 4.
05:27Then it didn't happen.
05:28It went on to be delayed at 5.
05:30So, we were all waiting.
05:31We were all waiting.
05:32We thought that the delay has been delayed because the flights of the Karnatak chief minister,
05:37the Telangana chief minister, the Keral chief minister and the Himachal chief minister
05:42were delayed.
05:42How is that related?
05:43How is that related?
05:44Press conference did happen, no Radhika?
05:46Because we thought they were all going to be there leading by example and do a press
05:51conference together, hand in hand and say, because of the SIR, we do not trust these
05:56elections.
05:56So, we resign and demand a re-election with a new voter list, with the old voter list.
06:01Did anyone resign?
06:02Did any chief minister stand down?
06:03Not a single one.
06:05It was just all an empty political theater.
06:06To the point that when your journalist asks a question, Rahul Gandhi refused to answer.
06:11She also asked a similar question.
06:13Are you going to go to court?
06:13I believe.
06:14Now, let's address the next thing.
06:17They are talking about that there is a letter of dissent.
06:19There is this is happening.
06:20That is happening.
06:21So, I would request.
06:22My friend is a very well-known lawyer.
06:24I am much junior to him.
06:26I am also a lawyer.
06:27So, you didn't realize that.
06:28Correct.
06:28No, no.
06:29I have to mention that.
06:30Yes, you are right Radhika.
06:31Yes, both legal voices and both political voices.
06:33I correct myself.
06:34Yes.
06:34So, now I would like to ask him.
06:36When he would go to court and defend or fight a case, he would definitely show those letters.
06:41There is no proof, sir.
06:43Those two letters or the letter that Indian Express has written a story.
06:46You have done so many press conferences.
06:48Now, Indian Express has a habit of doing hit jobs.
06:51Whether it was a time during the Congress.
06:53We will not get personal like that against fellow media organizations and journalists.
06:58Yes, but Congress to their credit.
07:02They are quoting a news report.
07:03They are quoting interviews.
07:04I didn't say.
07:05Is it their responsibility to bring letters?
07:08You know, Pooja, it was not me who said that they did a hit job and they did a press.
07:14Not once has the BJP done a press conference against the Indian Express.
07:18In fact, Prime Minister himself writes articles and opinion articles at the Indian Express.
07:23Yes, but it is the same Congress party who during their tenure came out all guns loaded.
07:28Especially Mr. A.K. Anthony, the then defense minister.
07:31When there was an article, a front page again by Indian Express that said that there was a military coup
07:36at Raisa Mahim.
07:37So, that time they had called them Godi.
07:39Now, suddenly that Godi has become haat pakad ke saath mein saath.
07:43Because there is maybe, you know, Nepoism from their order, whatever.
07:47But I would really like to know if you are making a certain...
07:49So, what's your final point?
07:51Final point is, I would like to see those two letters.
07:54Indian Express, dare he ne, dare he.
07:55That is different.
07:56I'm sure Adil is not a spokesperson of them.
07:58But if Congress party has done a press conference, Rahul Gandhi has called a press conference.
08:02A. Why did your chief ministers not resign and ask for an election?
08:05Why is it that in all states where the Congress loses,
08:08where you are living, where you are living, where you are all paak saath.
08:11That's an interesting point, Adil.
08:13You know, this is similar to the EVM controversy.
08:16And if you want to answer that...
08:17And also, also, Pooja, one second, just one second.
08:20Yes.
08:21Just an additional question.
08:22And also, Rahul Gandhi has that ability to get books which have not been written and published also.
08:27So, let it go.
08:28Okay.
08:30So, because, you know, in states like whether it's Himachal Pradesh, Kerala,
08:33even in Bengal where parts where TMC did win,
08:36Jammu Kashmir where National Conference has won,
08:39in Tamil Nadu, the TVK won.
08:41So, there are states where the BJP has not won.
08:44So, to say that BJP has hijacked it all, is it an unfair statement?
08:49And if you want to respond to what Radhika has said.
08:52Pooja, this is all water boutery.
08:54It is not Adil Boparai or Mr. Rahul Gandhi who has said that statutory form 6 has been unilaterally amended
09:01or that the EROs today do not have access.
09:05These are election commissioners.
09:07The ECI is a multi-member body which has to take decisions by unanimity or by majority.
09:13The chief election commissioner is only first among the equals.
09:17All election commissioners are at par with each other.
09:20This is what the Supreme Court said way back in 1995.
09:23Point number one.
09:24Point number two.
09:25Please understand this.
09:27This is emerging from the election commission.
09:31This is not an allegation out of thin air.
09:33And this is not something which has been disputed.
09:36Now, I'll give you an example.
09:37There is a three-member jury.
09:40Now, if one member of that jury masquerades and says,
09:43well, I am passing an order which has the full authority of the other members of the jury,
09:48is that not an act of fraud?
09:50Sure.
09:51In other words, one member of that jury has misrepresented that his directive has the authority of the full jury.
09:58But then that judgment wouldn't pass, right?
10:00It would be clear.
10:01We'll know who is dissented.
10:02We'll know how the judgment has come.
10:03Similarly here, can the CEC, did he really pass the order?
10:08The onus is on whom?
10:10The onus is not on Puja Shah or Radhika Khaira or Adhap Bhopada.
10:14The onus is on the election commission of India.
10:16The election commission of India has to come out.
10:19Today, based on the Indian Express story, which has not been rebutted.
10:23Let's face facts.
10:24This is not about Congress.
10:25This is about the very edifice on which this country stands.
10:29The election commission of India has not disputed this.
10:32So, the onus is on the ECI.
10:34Ideally, ideally, if Mr. Ganesh Gupta has an iota of shame, and I've said this even on Rajdeep's show,
10:40if he has an iota of shame left, though he's a shameless man, he lacks moral courage,
10:45he should come out and answer all these queries along with the other two election commissioners.
10:50Dood ka dood or paani ka paani?
10:52Radhika, that's a fair point.
10:54And even those who agree or disagree with the CEC or other ECs would say, let's just do a press
10:59conference.
11:00Let's just take the questions, answer them.
11:02Absolutely.
11:03So, three things that my friend talked about here.
11:06He said that there is an amendment to the Form 6A.
11:10First of all, there is no amendment.
11:12There has just been an additional question that has been added in terms of the SIR.
11:15So, you should get your facts correct.
11:17Second, deliberation is not dissent.
11:19Five notes are a normal part of civil service administration.
11:22When a final decision is gathered, it carries the unanimous authority of the commission.
11:26Constitutional officers speak through their official orders and unanimous decisions.
11:30Second thing, you talk about if he has an iota of respect left, iota of shame.
11:34Well, if Rahul Gandhi has an iota of shame left, he would have not done this press conference.
11:38He has a habit of raffle to so many.
11:44Then there was the voting machine in the voting machine.
11:48And then they go and apologize in court.
11:50Rahul Gandhi's habit is going to give it in the parliament, press conference.
11:55And when someone takes him to court, he will apologize.
11:57And he says, sorry, sorry, it's wrong.
12:00That is not the way a country is run.
12:02And why they are not doing a press conference is not for me to answer.
12:04You should have someone from the election commission to answer for that.
12:09I can answer for my party.
12:10And that Rahul Gandhi is a habitual offender.
12:12He tries to create and just see the timing, Pooja.
12:15Right before Uttar Pradesh's election.
12:17Because both the parties have nothing to do.
12:19And also one very interesting thing.
12:21Today, the Congress party was protesting in Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh.
12:24Where was Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi party or any alliance partner?
12:28So it is absolutely clear.
12:29So final point on that, because I'm also joined by some officers.
12:32I have to go across to them.
12:33But Adil, I'll give you the final point here.
12:35Because that's the question also.
12:37Is India Bloc not united on this?
12:39Will you organize more protests?
12:41Quickly, Saif.
12:41Even then, Jammu Kashmir assembly for that matter.
12:43This is just the beginning.
12:45This is just the beginning.
12:46We will not rest till we seek Mr. Gyanesh Gupta's resignation, point number one.
12:52Point number two, please understand.
12:54The response of the BJP is political point making.
12:57My friend has not made a single response which is germane to the issue.
13:02And number three, something which is even more sinister, which has been pointed out in the Indian Express story.
13:08Let me complete, please, Radhika.
13:10I didn't interrupt you.
13:11Ninety-seven names from Goa, despite the ERO founding those names to be correct, were rejected by the algorithm.
13:19So the corollary to this question, which is also something which has been raised in the air.
13:22So is this technical?
13:23Is this a centralized system?
13:24Is it manipulation being done?
13:26For now, yes.
13:27Thank you very much, Adil and Radhika.
13:29As you can see, it's a political showdown massively protests on the ground and BJP saying this is Rahul Gandhi's
13:34habit ahead of elections will rake up an issue.