Lucknow— Dr. C.P. Rai, Chairman of the Media Department of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and former minister, has strongly criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that it is no longer the beacon of neutrality and transparency it was during T.N. Seshan’s era.
Dr. Rai was referring to the recent directive by the Commission that mandates the deletion of election-related CCTV footage and recordings within 45 days — a sharp reduction from the previous one-year retention policy. He termed the move a direct assault on the democratic ethos, questioning the intent behind erasing crucial evidence so quickly after elections.
“This directive is nothing short of a conspiracy between the Modi government and the Election Commission to sabotage democratic processes and erode public trust,” said Dr. Rai in a press statement on Friday.
He echoed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s concerns, particularly around alleged irregularities in the Haryana and Maharashtra elections, where suspiciously high voting numbers in short durations were reported. “Rahul Gandhi raised valid doubts about 6.5 million votes being cast in just two hours in Maharashtra — an impossible feat by any physical or logistical measure,” Rai added.
Despite these concerns, Rai said, the Election Commission chose not to respond adequately and is now hurrying to erase evidence. He went so far as to label the move as indicative of “match-fixing”.
Serious Questions Ahead of Bihar Elections
Dr. Rai raised further alarms over the upcoming Bihar elections, where he suspects that the BJP-JDU alliance is preparing to manipulate outcomes. “Under the guise of protecting voter privacy, this rule risks hiding illicit activities. Are we setting up Bihar for another electoral scandal like Maharashtra and Haryana?” he questioned.
While the ECI claims the move is to protect voter privacy and curb AI misuse, Dr. Rai called the argument “hollow and deceptive”. He pointed out that the Supreme Court and various High Courts have upheld the public’s right to transparency, including access to video recordings and Form 17C documents.
“This step is not just anti-democratic but blatantly unconstitutional. It allows the ruling regime to manipulate results without fear of being held accountable,” Rai asserted.
Congress Demands Immediate Reversal
The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded that:
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The ECI revoke the 45-day deletion rule immediately
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All election recordings be preserved for at least one year
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Voter lists be made available in machine-readable format
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A neutral monitoring mechanism be established for upcoming elections, especially in Bihar
Dr. Rai also issued a stern warning to the Modi government, stating, “Democracy is not a toy to be twisted and broken for convenience. Congress and the people will fight back — from the streets to Parliament — against any attempt to subvert democratic values.”
He urged the people of Bihar to stay vigilant and safeguard their right to vote, declaring, “Democracy belongs to the people. So does the responsibility to protect it.”
The statement is expected to intensify political debate around the integrity of India’s electoral process, especially in light of the growing scrutiny of the ECI’s recent decisions.
