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Senior Congress leader and spokesperson Pawan Khera is once again at the center of political turmoil these days. The matter is very serious, as news reports are claiming that both Pawan Khera and his wife have two voter cards from different areas. This is an issue related to the electoral system, which directly raises questions on the sanctity and credibility of the democratic process. Voter card is the basic basis of citizenship and voting rights, and if a big leader has more than one copy of it, then not only will it be considered a criminal act legally, but it will also cause a huge controversy from a political point of view. After this revelation, the Bharatiya Janata Party has started sharp attacks on the Congress. BJP spokespersons have said that when such cases are coming to light from the house of big Congress leaders, then one can imagine what kind of beliefs will be formed among the common workers and supporters. According to the BJP, this is not only a legal violation but an example of the thinking of the Congress party, in which there is no place for moral values. Congress has long been accused of going to any extent to attain power and now this matter is further strengthening that notion.
BJP leaders say that if a common citizen is caught with two voter cards, immediate action is taken against him. The question is why no strict action has been taken against a strong leader like Pawan Khera and his wife till now. Opponents have demanded a high-level investigation of this matter from the Election Commission and claimed that this is a sign of danger to democracy. At a time when efforts are being made to purify the voter list in every state in the country, this matter related to a big public face also raises questions on the impartiality of the administration and the commission. Interestingly, the Congress is silent on this entire controversy till now. No official statement has come from the party and neither Rahul Gandhi or the top leadership has reacted to it. Congress spokespersons usually immediately come in front of the media on any issue, but after the Pawan Khera case came up, it seems as if a collective silence has been maintained. Political experts believe that this silence of the Congress leadership gives many messages. First, either the party is uncomfortable and does not want to publicly put its senior leader on the defensive, or the Congress itself is investigating the matter internally and will take a decision only after that.
The opposition has often accused Rahul Gandhi of remaining silent on serious issues and failing to discharge the responsibility of leadership. Now the Pawan Khera episode seems to strengthen that allegation. The BJP is repeatedly saying that a party that cannot fix accountability for the working style of its leaders, how will it be able to discharge its responsibility towards the country and democracy. The BJP has made a strategy to make it a big issue among the public by calling it a symbol of the character and culture of the Congress. The silence of the Congress is making this matter more serious. The common voter is also forced to think that if the party leadership does not state its stand in clear words, then it means accepting some deficiency somewhere. On the other hand, Congress supporters argue in a hushed tone that many times due to technical reasons or change of place, citizens get more than one voter card by mistake, and it is not necessary that every time it has happened deliberately for the purpose of fraud. But since Pawan Khera is a big national leader, his case has risen above the category of ordinary human error and has become a political weapon. BJP has not limited this issue to Delhi politics only, but has tried to capitalize on it through its organizational structure in various states. BJP leaders say that the character of Congress leaders has been exposed and the public should consider who is respecting the sanctity of the vote and who is tainting it. On the other hand, Congress workers are in a state of confusion as to which side the party will lean on in this controversial issue, whether it will openly support its spokesperson or make room for legal action.
Overall, the case of Pawan Khera and his wife having two voter cards is not just a personal mistake, but it is raising big questions on the politics of Congress and the responsibility of its leadership. BJP has made it a strong weapon to attack, while the continued silence on the part of the Congress leadership has deepened the suspicion. It will be interesting to see in the coming days what decision the Election Commission takes on this and whether the Congress finally comes forward to clarify any official stand, or this episode will gradually fade away amid political allegations and counter-allegations. In this case, the Election Commission, legal experts and political analysts say that the election laws in India are very clear. According to Section 17 and 18 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the name of any person cannot be in the voter list of two places at the same time. If a person is found to have two voter identity cards (EPIC numbers), it comes under the category of a serious crime, which can have the provision of both fine and jail. The Election Commission has been repeatedly appealing to the citizens to get their names removed from one place and get them registered in the correct assembly constituency. Do not keep more than one voter card. This rule is the same for everyone, from common citizens to public representatives, and the Commission keeps doing continuous revisions to remove duplicate entries from its side.
Experts believe that if a common man holds two voter cards and a complaint is received against him, the Election Commission first sends a notice. If a correct answer or satisfactory explanation is not given, legal action, jail and even suspension of voting rights can be taken. According to legal experts, if it is proved in the case of Pawan Khera and his wife that the name was deliberately written in both the places, or fake documents were used, then it will become a serious matter not only from moral but also from legal point of view, and their electoral eligibility can also be affected. Political experts also say that the level of this case is also a test of the Election Commission’s quick and fair action against this act of the national party spokesperson and his wife. If the Commission stops at just sending a formal notice and does not take decisive action, then it affects the credibility of democracy. At the same time, it has also been argued that many times people have two voter cards made by mistake, in such a situation the person can come forward and surrender one card, which can avoid legal complications. But when such allegations are leveled against the top faces of politics, and the response received is weak in the form of cover-up or clarification, then it is natural that the credibility of all leaders is questioned.
