The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Association has voiced strong condemnation against the online trolling of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s family. The condemnation follows recent allegations of “vote chori” or “vote theft” leveled against the Election Commission by opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the association expressed its concern, noting that “unwarranted criticism has been directed against the family members of the Chief Election Commissioner, who also happen to be well reputed civil servants.” The post further stated, “The IAS Association strongly deprecates such personal attacks unconnected with the discharge of official duties. We stand for the dignity and integrity in public service.”
In recent days, CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s family, particularly his daughters, have been targeted on social media platforms. Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, was appointed as an election commissioner in March after retiring as secretary in the ministry of cooperation in January 2024. He then took charge as CEC in February of this year.
The controversy began when Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged irregularities in the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and in a constituency in Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi claimed that the Election Commission was involved in “vote theft” to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
While several opposition parties have backed Gandhi’s charge, both the Election Commission and CEC Kumar have vehemently denied any wrongdoing. At a press conference on Sunday, Kumar challenged Gandhi to either provide an affidavit to prove his allegations or issue an apology.