Delhi: Congress alleges an ECI official 'assaulted' its candidate in Rithala

Congress candidate from Rithala assembly seat, Sushant Mishra, was allegedly assaulted by an officer of ECI on Saturday, 25 January, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a social media post on Sunday.

The officer also tried to stop him from taking out a padyatra, for which the Delhi Police had already given permission, Ramesh said.

Sushant Mishra has been actively raising cases of violations of the Model Code of Conduct by other candidates in the Delhi Assembly elections.

"This unprecedented and illegal act can only be seen as a desperate attempt by the AAP and BJP to stop Sushant's candidature and the growing support for the Congress party. But we are not afraid. We will continue to raise the voice of the people and protect the sanctity of our elections," Ramesh posted on X.

Mishra's claims of partisan behavior by the officer — allegedly influenced by the AAP and BJP — could further complicate the situation, especially if the public sees this as an attempt to undermine his political efforts and the Congress party’s growing support.

Given that the Election Commission is meant to serve as a neutral body, any allegations of political bias or interference by its officers can severely damage public trust in the electoral process. Mishra’s statement that he will continue to raise the voice of the people suggests he is determined to push forward despite the setbacks, but it also puts pressure on the authorities to investigate this incident and take corrective action if necessary.

If Mishra can garner public support around this issue, it could lead to protests, legal challenges, or calls for investigations, putting additional pressure on the Election Commission to respond and clarify the situation.