BJP and ECI accused of "votes manipulation" by Rahul Gandhi
In the ongoing controversy surrounding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has renewed his accusations against the ruling BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
During a meeting of the opposition INDIA alliance on Thursday evening, Gandhi alleged that a "huge criminal fraud" had occurred during the elections. He claimed that the poll schedule was "choreographed" to favour the ruling party and accused the ECI of crafting a "choreographed schedule" for state assembly elections in collusion with the BJP.
Gandhi's allegations centre around Karnataka's Mahadevapura constituency, where he has accused the electoral commission of facilitating the BJP's victory by allowing irregularities such as duplicate votes, fake addresses, and multiple votes cast with the same voter ID. He cited specific cases, including one of a voter named Shakun Rani allegedly voting twice, and claimed over 100,000 fraudulent votes contributed to his party's loss in that seat.
The Election Commission has firmly rejected these allegations as baseless and politically motivated. The Commission demanded that Gandhi substantiate his claims with formal evidence filed under oath. Notices were issued to him by Chief Electoral Officers of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana seeking documentary proof and a signed declaration of his allegations to enable a proper inquiry.
The Commission has termed Gandhi's charges "absurd analysis" and urged him to back his claims with a formal declaration under oath. The Commission also criticised Gandhi's use of terms like "vote chori" (vote theft) as an assault on the integrity of election officials.
The BJP has also strongly denied the claims, accusing Rahul Gandhi of attempting to destabilize public trust in the electoral system and engaging in political theatre without real evidence. BJP leaders have repeatedly challenged Gandhi to submit the requested proofs or withdraw his allegations, arguing his failure to do so proves his accusations lack merit.
Despite these exchanges, no formal evidence has yet been submitted by Rahul Gandhi to the Election Commission to trigger an official investigation. The opposition coalition has organised demonstrations demanding Parliamentary review, and some leaders, including Gandhi, were detained during protests near the ECI office in New Delhi.
Gandhi has threatened that the nation's culprits will face punishment, and he has described the alleged vote manipulation as an act of "treason". He has also accused the ECI of refusing to share digital versions of voter rolls.
The controversy remains politically charged with underlying legal processes pending, depending on Gandhi's submission of evidence.
- In the realm of news and policy-and-legislation, Rahul Gandhi, a prominent figure in Indian politics, continues to level accusations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the ruling BJP, alleging election irregularities during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and state assembly elections.
- The politics of the controversy surrounding the elections has become increasingly intense, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the ECI of crafting a 'choreographed schedule' in collusion with the BJP, and the ECI countering by demanding formal evidence and substantiation of his claims.
