New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar became an unlikely subject of social media jokes on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump's Republican Party suffered major defeats in the midterm elections.
From Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke's remark that "Gyanesh Kumar would've never let this happen to Trump" to an X user suggesting that the US president "badly needs a Gyanesh", memes and sarcastic posts invoked India's election chief amid allegations of electoral irregularities.
Politicians, activists and social media users used the US results to take fresh digs at the ongoing 'vote chori' controversy in India and allegations concerning Kumar's role in the electoral process.
"Trump Sahib, if you had taken Gyanesh along, you wouldn't have had to witness this day today," Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said in a post on X.
ट्रम्प साहिब, ले जाते ज्ञानेश को तो आपको आज यह दिन नहीं देखना पड़ता।
Activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, writing: "Modi: 'I am sorry I couldn't send Gyanesh to you my Phrand! I had to first take care of myself. But now the people here have confined him inside his house! He is unable to even help me now!"
Dipke shared his one-line remark with the hashtag 'just saying'.
Gyanesh Kumar would’ve never let this happen to Trump.#JustSaying
Another X user posted a meme showing Trump entering a room where Modi is waiting, accompanied by the caption: "Bro, give me Gyanesh."
A parody news post claimed: "Gyanesh Kumar to leave for the US as Trump starts losing the mid-term elections."
"Trump wants Gyanesh Kumar to conduct elections in the US now," read another post on X.
"Gyanesh Kumar will reportedly travel to the US at Donald Trump's request to train election officers on conducting elections impartially," another post said.
The wave of memes followed major setbacks for Trump's Republican Party, with voters giving the opposition Democratic Party control of the US Congress and flipping key gubernatorial posts in closely watched elections.
Republicans suffered defeats in strongholds including Texas, Georgia and Iowa, where Democrats won the governors' races.
The party also faced setbacks in Senate contests in Texas, Maine, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kansas and Iowa. Trump had campaigned in several races, urging voters to treat the elections as a referendum on his presidency.
The losses were attributed in the supplied account to public anger over Trump's policies, including the war on Iran, which was linked to rising living costs and higher diesel prices.
The online jokes also drew attention to the political controversy in India over alleged irregularities in voter lists.
Opposition parties have accused CEC Gyanesh Kumar of colluding with the ruling party during state and Lok Sabha elections and have demanded his resignation.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, has accused the opposition of spreading anarchy and making excuses for its electoral defeats.
The memes turned the US election results into another occasion for political opponents and critics to target India's election chief, using humour and satire to amplify the allegations surrounding the conduct of elections.