India, Aug. 18 -- An unusually combative press conference addressed by chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday underlined the trust deficit between the poll watchdog and the Opposition that can cast a shadow on the poll process. At the press conference, the first by CEC Kumar since he took over and the first since the controversial special intensive revision (SIR) drive in Bihar, the poll body termed the Opposition's allegations of "vote theft" false and baseless, calling upon Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to provide proof of his claims or withdraw his remarks.

As the custodian of the world's largest democracy, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has a right to defend itself and the sanctity of the poll process. And i...