Patna, Feb 18 (NationPress) Following the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer, as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, criticized the Union government regarding this decision.

He stated, "In a fair match, the umpire must remain impartial. However, the umpire (Election Commission) has now turned into a supporter for the ruling party," he asserted.

Tejashwi Yadav recalled the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections, accusing the Election Commission of delaying vote counting to sway the results.

"We were in the lead, yet the counting was paused and postponed. Final results were disclosed late at night, causing many of our candidates to lose narrowly. Numerous candidates appealed the decision in court, but the Election Commission remained unperturbed. If we gain power at the Centre, our primary move will be to abolish Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from the electoral process," Yadav declared.

Yadav expressed solidarity with Rahul Gandhi, who opposed Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment, labeling it an "executive overreach."

Rahul Gandhi previously remarked: "As the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, it is my responsibility to uphold the principles of Baba Saheb BR Ambedkar and our Constitution. Appointing the CEC while the matter is pending in the Supreme Court is a sign of disrespect."

Gandhi asserted that the Centre appointed Gyanesh Kumar just ahead of a pivotal Supreme Court hearing on electoral reforms.

Previously, Rahul Gandhi had dismissed the Centre’s nominees for the CEC role, insisting that the appointment should be devoid of governmental influence.

The selection of the Chief Election Commissioner holds significant importance as the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections approach.

The opposition fears that a biased election commission could undermine the integrity of the elections.