Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], July 10 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao mocked Congress MP Jairam Ramesh’s 'Vote-Bandi' comment in Bihar, stating that the 'baseless' and 'unfounded' allegations showed the INDI alliance and the RJD were afraid of the people of Bihar and the upcoming elections in the state.

He added that the people of Bihar had not forgotten the jungle raj, corruption, and the misdeeds of one family.

‘Such baseless and unfounded allegations show that the INDI alliance and RJD are afraid of the people of Bihar and the upcoming elections... They have already accepted defeat. They are looking for reasons for their defeat. The people of Bihar have not forgotten the jungle raj, corruption, and the misdeeds of one family,’ Sao told ANI.

Earlier, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had criticised the Election Commission, claiming that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise by the poll body would ‘destroy’ democracy. Drawing a parallel with demonetisation, he stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s notebandi in 2016 had destroyed the economy, while the ECI’s so-called Vote-Bandi would undermine democratic principles.

Ramesh, who is also Congress’ General Secretary in charge of Communications, made the comments following a meeting between representatives of the INDI alliance and the Election Commission to raise concerns about the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar.

‘Today, the INDIA delegation met the Election Commission on the subject of the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Election Commission was literally compelled to meet the delegation after having refused to do so. A few of us could not meet the ECI, which unilaterally imposed a limit of two representatives per party. I myself had to hang around in the waiting room for almost two hours,’ Ramesh wrote on X.

He further emphasised that the ECI, being a constitutional body, must not refuse hearing requests from the Opposition and must operate according to constitutional principles. ‘Over the last six months, the ECI has conducted itself in a manner which undermines the very basis of our democratic system. It cannot routinely refuse requests for a hearing from the Opposition. It must abide by the principles and provisions of the Constitution.’

‘Most importantly, it cannot dictate arbitrary rules for interacting with political parties, such as deciding the designation of those attending or the number who can attend or who is or isn’t an authorised person,’ he added.

Referring to the Election Commission's conduct, Ramesh said, ‘When the delegation rejected these new rules as arbitrary and confused, the Election Commission informed us this is a “New” Commission. We shudder to think what this “New” Commission’s game plan is. How many more master strokes can we expect? After the PM’s notebandi of November 2016 destroyed our economy, ECI’s Vote-Bandi in Bihar and other states, as reflected in the SIR, will destroy our democracy.’

(ANI)