Bengaluru: KPCC president B K Hariprasad has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar respond with facts to the objections being raised over the functioning of the Election Commission, saying citizens deserve clarity on matters concerning their right to vote.
Addressing a press conference at the KPCC office, Hariprasad said autonomous institutions entrusted with protecting citizens’ electoral rights should discharge their responsibilities independently. He alleged that failure to do so could undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
‘Answer allegations with facts’
Hariprasad alleged that 14 objections had been raised against decisions taken by the Election Commission during Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure as CEC, but that satisfactory answers had not been provided.
He challenged the CEC to place the facts before the public, saying questions could not be avoided by responding with counter-questions. Reports have also highlighted claims that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to certain decisions of the poll panel on multiple occasions.
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering elections in the country. Its official directory currently lists Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner.
Hariprasad also sought clarification over an allegation that Gyanesh Kumar had offered former Kerala chief secretary G.G. Thomman an opportunity to contest an election. He said the matter should be clarified with facts.
Hariprasad also criticised BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar for questioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that Chandrasekhar’s political conduct during his tenure as a Rajya Sabha member raised several questions.
He further alleged that Chandrasekhar had been involved in various business activities while serving as a member of the parliamentary standing committee on defence, and said details would be made public soon.
These claims were part of Hariprasad’s political criticism and were not independently established in the material provided.
‘Bihar model’ will not work in Karnataka
Reacting to the possibility of the BJP seeking to replicate its electoral experience in Bihar in Karnataka, Hariprasad said expectations of achieving a similar outcome in the state amounted to a “daydream”.
He maintained that the political circumstances in Karnataka were different and that what he termed the “Bihar model” could not simply be replicated in the state.
