On the final phase of polling for the Lok Sabha election on Sunday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission (EC) of “capitulation before Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.
Mr. Gandhi said the panel was no more feared and respected, and cited examples of its bias.
“From electoral bonds and EVMs to manipulating the election schedule, NaMoTV, ‘Modi’s Army’ and now the drama in Kedarnath — the Election Commission’s capitulation before Mr. Modi and his gang is obvious to all Indians. The EC used to be feared and respected. Not anymore,” Mr. Gandhi tweeted.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu wrote to the Election Commission objecting to the live telecast of the Prime Minister’s Kedarnath trip.
“If continuous telecast of these activities of the Prime Minister is not stopped, it could affect the level playing field envisaged by the model code of conduct,” Mr. Naidu said.
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram tweeted: “Polling is over. Now we can say that the ‘pilgrimage’ of the PM in the last two days is an unacceptable use of religion and religious symbols to influence the voting.”