NEW DELHI: In a veiled attack on the opposition, which has increasingly questioned the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in ensuring free and fair elections, Rajiv Kumar, who retired as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Monday, said the poll panel is “often unfairly blamed by those unwilling to accept electoral outcomes.”
In his farewell speech, Kumar stated, “A pressing concern is the growing tendency to target election officials in the aftermath of electoral contests. It is perceived as a convenient scapegoat.” His remarks come amid accusations from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who claimed that the addition of around 40 lakh voters in Maharashtra between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections last year impacted the results, where the BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide.
“The Commission, as an institution, often finds itself unfairly blamed by those unwilling to accept electoral outcomes. A pressing concern is the growing tendency to target election officials in the aftermath of electoral contests. It is perceived as a convenient scapegoat. All candidates and parties are involved in every stage of the process with utmost transparency,” Kumar said.