Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, has demanded new elections in Bihar and West Bengal, asserting that recent electoral outcomes in both states were compromised by extensive fraud and manipulation. His comments, made on September 23, follow a report by the Indian Express indicating dissent among two of the three Election Commissioners regarding decisions made by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

According to the report, Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections at least 14 times over a span of ten months concerning decisions taken without their knowledge. Yadav accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of silence in the face of these concerns, claiming that the ECI operates as an extension of the ruling party.

Yadav stated that the results of recent assembly elections in both states were significantly influenced by manipulation, demanding immediate electoral re-evaluations to restore democratic integrity. He described the revelations from the report as “sensational” and accused the ECI of enforcing directives from Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Changes in Election Rules Questioned

The former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister raised further issues regarding modifications to election rules, alleging that these changes were intended to obstruct the legal process. The time frame for maintaining voting and counting records has been reduced from one year to just 45 days, a change Yadav claims will hinder any attempts to challenge election results in court.

He expressed concern that if evidence is lost within weeks, it will be nearly impossible for political parties to seek judicial intervention. Yadav labelled the amendments to the election rules as deliberate strategies to impede justice and accountability.

He also challenged the revised appointment protocols for Election Commissioners, highlighting that earlier regulations mandated the involvement of the Chief Justice of India in the selection process. This has now been altered to appoint a Union Cabinet Minister instead, which Yadav argues undermines the independence and balance of the Election Commission.

Concerns Over Democratic Integrity Raised

Accusing the ruling party of orchestrating election defeats for the opposition, Yadav remarked that the electoral outcomes do not reflect the genuine will of the people. He claimed that in both the 2020 and 2025 elections, defeats were a product of manipulation, suggesting that tactics such as voter list purging and financial inducements were employed to sway results.

Yadav further asserted that the current situation poses risks to public order, warning that continued subversion of democracy could lead to unrest akin to situations in other nations. He emphasised the need for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to maintain its opposition against perceived injustices, vowing that the party would continue its protest from grassroots movements to legislative discussions.

In response to Yadav’s accusations, the Election Commission issued a statement asserting that all decisions and orders are made in accordance with constitutional provisions. It emphasised that varying perspectives within the commission are typical during decision-making processes, and that all actions adhere to legal frameworks designed to ensure transparency and protect voter rights.

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