New Delhi: A controversy has once again emerged concerning the Election Commission in national politics. Following the Congress party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has now also leveled serious allegations against the commission, stating that there has been bias and irregularities in the election process against their party. AAP says that their complaints and appeals in various states were not acted upon in a timely manner, which affected their electoral strategy.

Following the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has now accused the Election Commission of serious ‘vote theft’. AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed in a press conference on Friday that votes were cut on a large scale from Arvind Kejriwal’s New Delhi seat.

Bhardwaj stated that in 2020, there were 1.48 lakh voters in the New Delhi area, which decreased to 1.06 lakh in 2025. Approximately 42,000 names went missing from the voter list. On January 5, 2025, the then Chief Minister Atishi had written a letter to the then Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to complain.

According to the AAP leader, Atishi had said that 6,166 applications for vote deletion were received between October 29 and December 15, 2024. Despite this, the commission did not take any concrete steps. When information was sought through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the commission refused to provide it, calling it personal information.

However, the Election Commission has rejected AAP’s allegations. It should be noted that on the New Delhi seat, Arvind Kejriwal was competing against BJP candidate Pravesh Verma, who defeated the former CM by about 36,000 votes.

Election Commission Says – Gave Atishi a 76-Page Report The Election Commission clarified the allegations made by Saurabh Bhardwaj in a post on X, writing – The EC had sent a detailed 76-page response, including the report of the CEO/DEO, to the then Chief Minister of Delhi, Atishi, on January 13, 2025.

According to the commission’s letter dated January 13, 2025, Atishi had written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner on January 5, 2025, alleging an increase in applications for adding and removing names from the voter list. The commission had sought a report from the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, who reported that they were ascertaining the facts.

Election Commission

The Election Commission is an independent government body responsible for overseeing and administering the democratic process of elections within a country. Its history is tied to the development of modern democracies, established to ensure free and fair voting, manage voter registration, and enforce electoral laws. The specific powers and structure of an election commission vary by nation, but its core purpose is to uphold the integrity of the electoral system.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is an Indian political party founded in 2012 by activist Arvind Kejriwal and others, emerging from a prominent anti-corruption movement. It quickly gained national attention by winning the Delhi Legislative Assembly election in 2013 and has since formed the government in the National Capital Territory of Delhi multiple times, focusing its platform on issues of governance, education, healthcare, and utilities.

Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament and the supreme legislative body representing the people of India. Its members are directly elected by universal adult suffrage. The first Lok Sabha was constituted in 1952 after India’s first general elections following independence from British rule.

New Delhi

New Delhi is the modern capital of India, officially inaugurated in 1931 to replace Calcutta as the seat of the British Raj. It was designed by architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, featuring wide boulevards and grand government buildings like the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The city serves as the political heart of India, housing the Parliament, government ministries, and numerous historical monuments.

Right to Information (RTI) Act

The Right to Information (RTI) Act is a powerful law that empowers citizens to seek information from the government, promoting transparency and accountability. Its modern origins are often traced to Sweden’s 1766 Freedom of the Press Act, but a landmark model was established by India’s RTI Act of 2005. This legislation has since inspired similar laws in over 100 countries, fundamentally changing the relationship between citizens and the state.

BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one of India’s two major political parties. Founded in 1980, it has its roots in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was established in 1951, and it champions the ideology of Hindu nationalism. The party has grown to become a dominant political force, forming the central government of India since 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi

The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi is not a place or cultural site, but a constitutional office responsible for conducting elections in India’s National Capital Territory of Delhi. The position was established under the provisions of the Indian Constitution to oversee the electoral process, including voter registration and the smooth conduct of elections. Its history is tied to the democratic framework of India, ensuring free and fair elections in the capital.

Chief Election Commissioner

The Chief Election Commissioner is not a physical place or cultural site, but a senior official responsible for overseeing the electoral process in a country, such as India. The role was established to ensure free and fair elections, with the first Chief Election Commissioner of India appointed in 1950, shortly after the nation’s independence. This position is fundamental to upholding the democratic principles of a nation.