Is the Election Commission at Fault Instead of Pawan Khera?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Opposition leaders defend Pawan Khera against BJP accusations.
- Allegations attributed to Election Commission's failures.
- Concerns raised about electoral integrity.
- Political blame game continues amid controversy.
- Discrepancies often result from administrative lapses.
New Delhi, Sep 3 (NationPress) Opposition leaders have rallied to support Congress figure Pawan Khera following accusations from the BJP that he possesses two active voter ID cards from separate Delhi constituencies. They attributed the issue to a failure on the part of the Election Commission, dismissing the claims as politically charged.
“This is a misstep by the Election Commission, not by Pawan Khera,” asserted Congress leader Udit Raj, adding, “If your system permits the issuance of multiple EPIC numbers and voter IDs, the responsibility lies with the Election Commission. What transgression has Pawan Khera committed in this instance?”
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) expressed similar sentiments. Party spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari stated, “Numerous BJP leaders also possess multiple EPIC numbers. If anyone holds two EPICs, it is the fault of the EC, and they should clarify.”
Previously, the Election Commission issued a formal notice to Khera after discovering he was registered as a voter in both the New Delhi and Jangpura Assembly constituencies. The notice stated: “Notice to Shri Pawan Khera for being registered on the Electoral Roll of more than one constituency.”
Congress leader Husain Dalwai also dismissed the allegations, asserting, “There is no proof that Khera himself registered in two places. It could have been someone else's doing, or it might simply be an administrative error. I don’t believe he’s to blame. These allegations appear to be intentionally fabricated.”
In the meantime, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has not only targeted Khera but also accused his wife, Kota Neelima, of maintaining two active EPICs, one from Khairatabad (Telangana) and another from New Delhi. Malviya shared both voter ID details on social media, labeling it a significant breach of electoral standards.
However, Congress insiders contend that such anomalies are not rare and often arise from administrative errors by electoral bodies.
While the EC has allowed Khera time to address the notice, the political blame game persists, with the Opposition accusing the BJP of diverting attention from pressing issues by manufacturing unnecessary drama.