Launching a bitter attack on the Election Commission (EC) after the conclusion of the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Sunday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the poll body of surrendering to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

EC’s capitulation before PM Modi and his gang is obvious, said Rahul. He further said that the Election Commission is no longer “feared and respected”. He also listed a number of examples in this regard, including PM Modi’s visit to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.

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“From Electoral Bonds and EVMs to manipulating the election schedule, NaMo TV, ‘Modi’s Army’ and now the drama in Kedarnath; the Election Commission’s capitulation before Mr Modi and his gang is obvious to all Indians. The EC used to be feared and respected. Not anymore,” he Tweeted.

From Electoral Bonds & EVMs to manipulating the election schedule, NaMo TV, “Modi’s Army” & now the drama in Kedarnath; the Election Commission’s capitulation before Mr Modi & his gang is obvious to all Indians.

The EC used to be feared & respected. Not anymore.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 19, 2019

Even before the Lok Sabha elections started, Rahul and Congress have been accusing the Election Commission of being biased and partial towards the ruling party and the prime minister.

Slamming the poll body, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “Our charge had been that the EC was sleeping on the job. Now, we can go further and say that the EC completely surrendered its independence and authority. Shame!

Our charge had been that the EC was sleeping on the job. Now, we can go further and say that the EC completely surrendered its independence and authority. Shame!

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 19, 2019

“Polling is over. Now we can say that the ‘pilgrimage’ of the PM in the last two days is an unacceptable use of religion and religious symbols to influence the voting,” Chidambaram alleged.

Polling is over. Now we can say that the ‘pilgrimage’ of the PM in the last two days is an unacceptable use of religion and religious symbols to influence the voting.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 19, 2019

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on May 17, Rahul had said, “The Election Commission has a different set of rules for the Prime Minister and the BJP and different rules for other opposition parties. The biasness of the Election Commission is visible.”

He had also accused the Election Commission of planning the election schedule to benefit PM Modi and the BJP.