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Updated 14:22 IST, February 4th 2025

We Are Three-member Body, Not Run by One Person: EC Hits Back at AAP

The EC said it has decided to have constitutional restraint, absorbing such outbursts with sagacity, stoically and not to be swayed by such insinuations.

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We Are Three-member Body, Not Run by One Person: EC Hits Back at AAP
We Are Three-member Body, Not Run by One Person: EC Hits Back at AAP | Image: Republic

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday hit back at the Aam Aadmi Party after the latter accused it of ignoring BJP 's alleged violation of the MCC ahead of tomorrow's Delhi polls.

The ECI run by CEC Rajiv Kumar, the poll panel said it is a three-member body which has collectively noted "repeated deliberate pressure tactics" to malign the poll authority in Delhi polls. It said that an impression is being created that the Election Commission is a single-member body.

In a post on X, the EC said it has decided to have constitutional restraint, absorbing such outbursts with sagacity, stoically and not to be swayed by such insinuations.

"The 3-member Commission collectively noted repeated deliberate pressure tactics to malign ECI in Delhi Elections,as if it is a single member body & decided to have constitutional restraint, absorbing such outbursts with sagacity, stoically & not to be swayed by such insinuations," the poll authority said the post.

"Action on issues raised by political parties & candidates are taken in each instance by over 1.5 lakh officials in #DelhiAssemblyElection2025 who are functioning within an established legal framework, robust processes & SoPs ensuring fair play and non-partisan conduct," it added.

Top AAP leaders, including its convenor Arvind Kejriwal , have claimed that the EC has been ignoring the BJP 's alleged violations of the Oll code. Kejriwal had alleged that Kumar is not taking action against the BJP to bag a post-retirement assignment.

What Did Arvind Kejriwal Said?

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed the EC had surrendered before the BJP. The former Delhi chief minister asked the top election officer to "do your duty" and "give up the desire" for the post.

"Today the way the Election Commission has surrendered before the Bharatiya Janata Party, it seems as if the Election Commission does not exist. This is raising a very big question. It is justified for people to have questions in their minds that Rajiv Kumar Ji, who is the Chief Election Commissioner, is retiring at the end of this month. What kind of post has been offered to him post-retirement? The post of governor, the post of president, what kind of post can it be?" Arvind Kejriwal said at a press conference.

"I request Rajiv Kumar Ji with folded hands. Do your duty, give up the desire for the post, give up the greed for the post. Now at the end of your career, do not destroy the country, the country's democracy," he added.

Kumar demits office on February 18 on attaining the age of 65 years. Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu are the other election commissioners.

Delhi goes to polls on Wednesday where AAP seeks to retain power and BJP trying to form the next government.

(Inputs from PTI)

Published 13:33 IST, February 4th 2025