Prayagraj: Former Union Minister and Senior Congress leader Anil Shastri has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stating that his continuation in office undermines the credibility of the electoral system. During his visit to the city on Tuesday, Shastri said that vote theft by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his proxies amounts to an assault on democracy. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has left no stone unturned in exposing this deception. He further said that the massive gathering of lakhs of people at the INDIA Alliance’s Vote Bachao–Desh Bachao Maharally, held in Delhi on Sunday, has left Modi, Shah, BJP leaders and RSS members deeply isomnia and unsettled, and that their countdown has begun.

Questioning the government’s intentions, Shastri said that Gyanesh Kumar, who has repeatedly helped the ruling party savour electoral victories, is being kept beyond the purview of the law for a reason. He remarked, “The referee is also ours, and the whistle is ours too.”

Shastri claimed that from the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers to senior BJP leaders, everyone is preoccupied with retaining power. They have no concern whatsoever for inflation, unemployment, growing discontent among youth and students, or the deteriorating condition of farmers and women.

Praising Rahul Gandhi’s role in raising the issue of vote theft, Shastri said that Gandhi has demonstrated that challenging the government requires fearlessness and unwavering determination. When people stop being afraid, history changes.