EC Rebukes Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Vote Chori’ Allegations
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claims of widespread voter fraud, calling them “absurd.” The ECI has demanded that he either formally back his allegations with a signed declaration under oath or apologize to the nation.
What Rahul Gandhi Alleged
Rahul Gandhi accused the ECI of being complicit in “vote chori” (vote theft) for the BJP. He claimed that the Congress has “100 percent proof” of manipulation in electoral rolls in a Bengaluru constituency, pointing to suspicious additions and deletions. He warned poll officials involved that they would be held accountable and termed the wrongdoing as treason.
ECI Pushes Back
In response, the ECI called his claims a recycled strategy, referring to similar allegations made in the past. The commission insisted that the electoral process is fair, that voter lists were shared with returns for corrections, and very few appeals or election petitions were filed by the Congress. The ECI also noted that the same electoral rolls have been used by the Karnataka government for its caste census, emphasizing their consistency and credibility.
Political Fallout and Reactions
The BJP slammed the allegations as damaging to democratic institutions, accusing Rahul Gandhi of undermining constitutional bodies. His claims also stirred internal debate within the INDIA bloc, raising concerns over the potential impact on the coalition’s message of respectful institutional discourse.
What Comes Next
Rahul Gandhi must now either substantiate his allegations through legal channels—including filing formal appeals or election petitions—or retract and apologize publicly. The next few days will show whether he can support his claims legally or if the issue will shift back into political debate.
