Election Commission Press Conference LIVE Updates (August 17, 2025): Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday dismissed allegations of “vote theft” and double voting in Bihar, calling them “baseless” and politically motivated. His remarks came hours after the INDIA bloc parties launched the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state.

Addressing a press conference, Kumar said the revision exercise was aimed at removing shortcomings in the voter lists and ensuring free and fair elections. “It is a matter of grave concern that some parties and their leaders are spreading misinformation on SIR in Bihar… some political parties are firing from the Election Commission’s shoulder,” he said.

Rejecting claims that the exercise was rushed, Kumar asserted that SIR is the Commission’s legal responsibility ahead of every election. “It is a myth that SIR has been carried out in haste. The EC exhorts all political parties to file claims and objections on the draft electoral rolls. Fifteen days are still remaining,” he added.

Kumar assured that the Commission’s officials, along with booth-level officers and agents, were working “in a transparent manner” to make the revision a “huge success”.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’

Amid this, Rahul Gandhi began his “Voter Adhikar Yatra” from Sasaram in Bihar today. The 16-day march is aimed at bringing electoral reforms and exposing alleged manipulations in the voter lists. It will culminate in a grand rally in Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan on September 1.

The is similar to his Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and will pass through 23 districts. It will cover 50 Assembly segments in 29 Lok Sabha constituencies across Bihar. 

EC’s note on ‘vote theft’ charges

The Election Commission issued a note on Saturday and underscored that the political parties have failed to flag errors in electoral rolls during the “designated claims and objections period”.  

“The appropriate time to raise any issue with the electoral rolls would have been during the Claims and Objections period of that phase, which is precisely the objective behind sharing the Electoral Rolls with all Political Parties and the Candidates. Had these issues been raised at the right time through the right channels, it would have enabled the concerned SDM / EROs to correct the mistakes, if genuine, before those elections,” a part of the note read. 

It added, “ECI continues to welcome the scrutiny of Electoral Rolls by Political Parties and any Elector. It will help SDMs/EROs to remove the errors and purify the Electoral Rolls, which has always been the objective of ECI.”

Live Updates
16:44 (IST) 17 Aug 2025
Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: 'As if a BJP leader was speaking,' says Cong on EC presser

Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the ECI's presser and said, "Did he (CEC) give any response about the 1 lakh voters we exposed in Mahadevapura...We had hoped that today he would answer our questions...They say privacy is hampered in 45 days, then why isn't it hampered in those 45 days?...It seemed as if a BJP leader was speaking today..."

16:33 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: CEC defends SIR in Bihar

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar did not address the question raised by Indian Express reporter about the 'not recommended' option for BLOs on the enumeration form. The CEC continues to defend the special intensive revision exercise in Bihar.

"We request political parties to come ahead and raise errors in electoral rolls in Bihar till September 1. Nothing can be done after that," CEC concluded the presser by saying.

16:21 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: 'Give affidavit or apologise'

"Sign affidavit or apologise, there is no third option. If [Rahul Gandhi] doesn't submit affidavit within seven days then it would mean his allegations are wrong," CEC Gyanesh Kumar said.

15:57 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: 'Multiple voter IDs due to migration, other issues,' says CEC

CEC said at the presser that "knowingly, unknowingly some people ended up having multiple voter cards due to migration, other issues; SIR to rectify this".

15:39 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: 'Insult to Indian Constitution'

CEC asked should the poll body make the information of voters public? Kumar was referring to the 'vote theft' allegations made by Rahul Gandhi. "It is insult to Indian Constitution if election petition is not filed within 45 days but allegations of 'vote chori' are raised," CEC Gyanesh Kumar said.

15:30 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: CEC on not providing machine readable electoral rolls

In his address, CEC Kumar provided a justification behind not sharing machine readable voter rolls to political parties. "Honourable Supreme Court has said...that it should not be done as voter privacy can be breached," the senior official said.

"Election Commission will stand solid along with all the voters from all the sections of the society regardless of their class and religion," the CEC said.

On to the press questions now.

15:26 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: 'Everyone is equal before the Election Commission,' says CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in his address to the press emphasised that the Constitution makes it mandatory for every citizen above the age of 18 to register as a voter and exercise their franchise. Dismissing allegations of bias, he noted that since all political parties are registered with the Election Commission, the question of discrimination does not arise. He underlined that for the Commission, there is no distinction between ruling and opposition parties, all are treated equally, and asserted that the poll body will never shirk its constitutional responsibility.

15:15 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: CEC Gyanesh Kumar addresses the press

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar begins addressing the press in Delhi. "Everyone is equal before the EC. Election Commission will never move back from its responsibility," Kumar says.

15:10 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: Presser begins

Election Commission press conference has started. The poll body is being addressed by the CEC, two Election Commissioners and several other officials from the ECI.

15:03 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: Presser to begin shortly

The Election Commission press conference will begin any minute now. The scheduled time for the presser was 3 pm.

15:02 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: Oppn slams EC on special intensive revision at Voter Adhikar Rally

Opposition parties of the INDIA bloc has slammed the Election Commission of India on its hushed exercise of voter revision in the poll-bound Bihar.

Addressing the public at the 'Voter Adhikar Rally' in the city of Sasaram, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that the BJP was using the Election Commission to snatch people's right to vote. “BR Ambedkar gave us the 'Right to Vote'… but the BJP is snatching this right of people through the EC...It is working on the directions of the BJP,” he alleged.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera circled EC on its press note where it said that political leaders should have raised the issue of errors in the electoral roll at the "appropriate time". Khera said, "They are basically saying that they admit they have stolen votes, so why didn't we catch them on time. Have you ever heard of something like this before? I have heard this for the first time, now a lot of things will happen for the first time."

14:38 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: 'Will put an end to vote theft,' says Rahul Gandhi in Bihar

Rahul Gandhi while addressing the public rally on the first day of his 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' said that INDIA bloc will expose the truth behind the ongoing Special Intensive Revision in the state. "... I know that PM Modi is not going to get a true caste census conducted... But the INDIA bloc will ensure a true caste census in the country... We will put an end to vote theft and expose the truth of SIR... Thank you, Lalu ji, from the bottom of my heart, for coming here even though the doctor had advised you not to," Gandhi said.

14:33 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde on EC's press note: 'You have one job'

Senior advocate at the Supreme Court Sanjay Hegde commented on the EC's Saturday press note on electoral rolls scrutiny. "You have one job, to conduct free and fair elections. This press release admits your failure but blames political parties for your mistakes. Would love to see this on affidavit," Hegde wrote on X.

In its press note, the EC said that the political parties did not raise the errors in the electoral roles under prescribed time. "Had these issues been raised at the right time through the right channels, it would have enabled the concerned SDM/EROs to correct the mistakes, if genuine, before those elections," the poll body said.

14:18 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: 'Elections are being stolen in the entire country,' Rahul Gandhi in Bihar

"I am telling you from this stage that Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections are being stolen in the entire country. Their latest conspiracy is to conduct SIR in Bihar and steal the Bihar elections as well. All of us have come to this stage to tell you that we will not let them steal this election...," Rahul Gandhi said in Bihar.

14:09 (IST) 17 Aug 2025
Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: Press briefing to start in one hour

The press briefing, the subject of which has not yet been disclosed, will start within an hour from now. This comes amid the war of words with the opposition over "Vote Chori" allegations.

13:55 (IST) 17 Aug 2025
Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: What EC said on Saturday?

The Election Commission, ahead of the press conference today, released a note stating that although it welcomes the scrutiny of electoral rolls by political parties and voters, the parties failed to flag errors on time.

13:40 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: Rahul's Voter Adhikar Yatra

Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra will pass through 23 districts, and cover 50 Assembly segments in 29 Lok Sabha constituencies across Bihar. 

13:30 (IST) 17 Aug 2025

Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: Rahul Gandhi's Bihar yatra

Amid this, Rahul Gandhi has started his 16-day Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar. This will culminate on September 1 at Patna's Gandhi Maidan.

13:15 (IST) 17 Aug 2025
Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: EC may address 'vote chori' allegations

The Election Commission has not yet revealed the subject of the press conference; however, officials reportedly believe that it would address the recent "vote chori" allegations by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

13:07 (IST) 17 Aug 2025
Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates: EC presser at 3 pm

The presser will start in just a few hours from now, at 3 PM today.

13:04 (IST) 17 Aug 2025
Election Commission Press Conference Live Updates

Welcome to our live coverage of the press briefing by the Election Commission today.