Sun Sep 14 07:35:09 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Former Election Commissioner Criticizes ECI’s Handling of “Vote Theft” Allegations**

**New Delhi – September 14, 2025** – Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi has strongly criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its response to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote theft” during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In an interview, Quraishi stated that the ECI should have launched a probe into Gandhi’s claims, rather than reacting defensively and, in his opinion, “shouting” at the opposition leader. Quraishi deemed the ECI’s language and body language towards Gandhi as “objectionable and offensive.” He emphasized that as Leader of Opposition, Gandhi represents millions and his concerns warrant serious investigation.

Quraishi also expressed concern over the ECI’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. He warned that excluding the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) as a valid document and attempting a massive overhaul of the voter rolls in a short timeframe is fraught with risk. He stated the actions of the ECI were akin to “opening a pandora’s box” and “putting [their] hand in a hornet’s nest,” potentially undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

Quraishi added that, in his experience as CEC, it was vital to prioritize the concerns of the opposition, ensuring they have easy access to the Commission and their issues are thoroughly addressed. He contrasted this with the current situation where opposition parties have reportedly struggled to get appointments with the ECI.

The criticism comes after current CEC Gyanesh Kumar publicly challenged Gandhi to provide a declaration under oath within seven days to substantiate his claims of voter list irregularities or have those claims deemed baseless. Gandhi has alleged widespread manipulation and “vote theft” in the 2024 elections, particularly citing data from the Mahadevapura assembly segment in Karnataka. He also led a “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar against the SIR, alleging collusion between the BJP and the ECI to suppress votes.

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