'Take Gyanesh Kumar to US': Cong's jibe after Trump praises India's poll system

'Please take Gyanesh Kumar to America': Congress's jibe at CEC after Trump lauds Indian electoral system TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Aug 18, 2026, 12:21 IST Comments Share AA Text Size Small Medium Large Khera proposed sending India’s electronic voting machines (EVM) and Kumar to the US. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera on Tuesday took a dig at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after US President Donald Trump cited India’s election system while calling for stricter voter identification rules in the United States.In his post on X, Khera said, “Please take Gyanesh Kumar Gupta to America. And keep him there. We will send our EVMs too by the next available flight.”Referring to what he called Trump’s “insults and bullying” towards India, Khera added, “This is the least we can do for you.”He ended the post with, “To SIR With Love, from India,” indirectly referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Trump had cited India’s electoral system while renewing his push for the SAVE America Act, a proposed US law that would require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and introduce voter identification requirements.Trump said India’s Chief Election Commissioner had questioned how elections could be conducted in the US without valid photo identification.“Earlier this month, India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration - How can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID?” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.Trump also referred to India’s 2024 Lok Sabha election and said more than 646 million people voted, while less than 1% voted through postal ballots. He said every voter had a valid photo identity document.The Congress response comes against the background of its disputes with Kumar and the Election Commission over electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR.The dispute intensified in 2025 after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of “vote chori” and alleged irregularities in voter rolls.Rahul Gandhi alleged irregularities in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Congress alleged that the constituency had duplicate voters, voters with allegedly incorrect addresses and other irregularities.The Election Commission rejected the allegations and asked Rahul Gandhi to submit an affidavit supporting his claims. Kumar later said Rahul should provide an affidavit or apologise. The Congress also raised questions over the Bihar SIR conducted ahead of the 2025 Assembly election.The party alleged that the exercise could lead to eligible voters being removed from the electoral rolls. The Election Commission rejected allegations of bias and “vote chori” and said it treated all political parties equally.The Congress later raised allegations over voter deletions in Karnataka’s Aland Assembly constituency. Last year, Rahul Gandhi alleged that voters had been targeted for deletion and accused Kumar of protecting those responsible. The TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most."