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Delhi Elections 2025: What makes Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar’s media interaction different is his style of addressing using ‘shayari’ or Urdu poetry.
Delhi elections 2025: Rajiv Kumar recited at least three poetries in Urdu before announcing poll dates.
Before every elections, the Election Commission of India holds a press conference to inform the dates for voting and counting of votes. This is the process that all election commissioners follow, irrespective of annoucement for state or general elections. However, what makes Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar’s media interaction different is his style of addressing using ‘shayari’ or Urdu poetry.
The announcement for 2025 Delhi election dates was no different. While responding to those questioning EVMs and the electoral process, Kumar on Tuesday said: “Everyone cares about the question, the answer is given. The usual pen and band are giving answers, today Roobaru has also become famous. Who knows whether you are there tomorrow or not, today the answer has been given.“
This loosely translates to: All questions are important. Hence, we must answer them. We usually have a habit of replying in written but we must respond face to face today. We never know if tomorrow comes or now, hence replying to questions today is important.
The second ‘shayari’ came while Kumar was talking about political leaders who come out with allegations of ballot rigging after election results. “There is no point in saying anything, my life is due to them. It is our duty to write teachings, but listening, hearing and understanding is our habit..”
This poetry loosely translates to: It’s alright even if they don’t agree. They still have faith in my loyalty. May be complaining is a compulsion for them. But it’s our habit to listen, bear and sort things out.
Reciting his third ‘shayari’ on those doubting the work of Election Commission, Rajiv Kumar said, “The rounds of accusations and accusations went on, but no one died. Jhooth’s balloon got high, no one complained. There is a huge amount given in every name but they make the world bright without any proof of doubt. And the cure for doubt is not even available to Hakeem Luqman..”
The above poetry loosely translates to: I have no complaints in this era of blame game and allegations, neither will I object to balloons of lies flying high. We keep giving proof during every result but they keep lighting a new world of doubts without any evidence. And there’s no cure for doubts — neither with a wise man nor a physician.
All the concerns raised by Congress party have been answered by CEC Rajiv Kumar through his shayaris. 3 shayari for all the questions and accountability done…! pic.twitter.com/hpevSWb3w7
— Venisha G Kiba (@KibaVenisha) January 7, 2025
The poetries of CEC Rajiv often go viral. Earlier, his impromptu poetry during the Lok Sabha Election 2024 schedule announcement was widely circulated on social media.
“There is so much excitement in Jhooth’s market, it is like a bulb has suddenly burst, even if you boil it, what will be the result except eyes?. (In the market of lies, there is much splendor, as if it were a bubble that bursts immediately, and if you try to catch it, what will you gain except deceit.)”
Similarly, during the announcement of voting dates for Jammu and Kashmir (a state that has seen unrest on multiple occasions in the past), Kumar had recited: “The story of changing circumstances in long chapters, Roshan will wait as if explaining his destiny. With your participation in the celebration of Jumooriyat, the world will see the story of the study of innocent intentions..”
His poetry translates to: The story of the changing circumstances is in long lines. The bright hopes will narrate its tale. With your participation in the celebration of democracy, the world will see the story of defeat of evil intentions.
