After damning reports on CEC, Tejashwi Yadav seeks re-election in Bihar and West Bengal

Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) said a report regarding the Election Commission’s functioning has revealed how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intends to dismantle the Constitution and democracy, and how Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are destroying the democratic system.

Addressing the media at his official residence in Patna, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national working president asserted that serious questions have arisen from the report, and both Election Commissioners have lodged complaints regarding the Chief Election Commissioner’s modus operandi.

“Why is there silence over the questions raised by the two Election Commissioners about the Chief Election Commissioner of India (ECI) Gyanesh Kumar? He should come forward and answer. The press release issued by the ECI was drafted at the behest of Amit Shah,” Mr. Yadav alleged.

He pointed out that when the special intensive revision (SIR) was under way in Bihar, the RJD was the first to raise questions and even approached the Supreme Court seeking justice. Mr. Yadav further alleged that the report has revealed that the Chief Election Commissioner enjoys the BJP’s patronage.

“It has also become clear how the ‘SIR’ process was arbitrarily implemented across the country, including in Bihar and West Bengal and how the Commission abused its authority to help the BJP to win elections in these States and other States. Despite lodging a complaint against Gyanesh Kumar’s arbitrary actions and working style, the Commission cunningly altered the rules to eliminate evidence. It has also come to light how the Commission blatantly flouted the rules,” Mr. Yadav alleged.

The RJD leader further said that previously, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court played a role in the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner, but the Narendra Modi government changed this process to include a Union Minister instead.

“Elections in Bihar were conducted fraudulently. Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah used to provide a list to the Chief Election Commissioner specifying the number of seats they expected to win, and the BJP and its alliance would secure exactly those seats. In Bihar, money continued to be deposited into women’s accounts till the day of voting. However, the ECI ignored the Opposition’s concerns and acted to ensure a victory for the BJP and its alliance,” Mr. Yadav said.

The Bihar Leader of Opposition explained that reports have revealed the ECI conducted elections in Bihar and West Bengal in a fraudulent manner. He demanded a re-election in both States, noting that the poll results were declared based solely on the lists provided by Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah.

He pointed out that in 1995, the Supreme Court had clearly stated that the three Election Commissioners hold equal jurisdiction and status; however, the Chief Election Commissioner has exercised his authority to undermine the jurisdiction of the other two commissioners.

He asserted that the public must remove Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah, as they have allegedly manipulated constitutional institutions to suit their own agenda and effectively turned them into wings of the BJP.

The former Deputy Chief Minister also said that CEC Gyanesh Kumar has neither responded to the allegations made by the two Election Commissioners nor offered any clarification.