EC criticised for 'attack' on Gandhi, prompted by missed deadline

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-08-11 12:32:22 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-11 15:40:29

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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has slammed the Election Commission for "attacking" Rahul Gandhi with a criticism of his "late fee payment", prompting fresh questions about the poll body's neutrality.

The commission had on Tuesday sparked controversy by stating that it was "well within its rights" to reject the Congress nomination of Gandhi for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Gujarat, citing a delayed payment of the required deposit fee.

Tharoor, a former diplomat and author, wrote on Twitter: "The EC has eschewed its responsibility to ensure free and fair elections by opting for this petty action against a candidate of one of the country's major parties."

He added in another tweet: "Had the EC gone across to Congress to ask WHY the deposit was delayed, to seek explanation, it may have been acting responsibly ... but merely to PUNISH a major party's candidate a technical violation has been commonplace ...."

The criticism came amid a widening backlash against the commission's decision, which political observers say could impact the electoral body's credibility ahead of a number of state polls this year, including in Rahul Gandhi's home state of Uttar Pradesh.

Many pointed out that the commission has previously allowed exemptions from election procedures for prominent politicians.

Tharoor concluded his tweetstorm with a call for the EC to focus on its mandate of ensuring free and fair elections, saying: "We want answers, not attacks."

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