The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday issued a strong statement against what it called "repeated deliberate pressure tactics to malign ECI," asserting that it will not be influenced by "such insinuations." The response came after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal accused Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar of having a "greed for post-retirement appointments."

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Election Commission expressed its collective stance: "The 3-member Commission collectively noted repeated deliberate pressure tactics to malign ECI in the Delhi Elections, as if it is a single-member body & decided to have constitutional restraint, absorbing such outbursts with sagacity, stoically & not to be swayed by such insinuations."

The poll panel emphasized that all actions taken regarding issues raised by political parties and candidates are handled by over 1.5 lakh officials involved in the Delhi Assembly Election 2025, all working within a legal framework, ensuring fairness and non-partisanship.

Kejriwal, in a press conference on Monday, had leveled serious accusations against the Election Commission, claiming it had "surrendered before the BJP." He questioned the impartiality of the poll body and suggested that the Chief Election Commissioner might be influenced by the prospect of a post-retirement appointment, which he speculated could involve a prestigious position such as that of a governor or president.

"Today the way the Election Commission has surrendered before the Bharatiya Janata Party, it seems as if the Election Commission does not exist. This is raising a very big question. It is justified for people to have questions in their minds that Rajiv Kumar Ji, who is the Chief Election Commissioner, is retiring at the end of this month. What kind of post has been offered to him post-retirement?" Kejriwal stated, urging Rajiv Kumar to focus on his duty and avoid the lure of post-retirement ambitions.