Rahul Gandhi Accuses 'Vote Theft,' Criticizes Election Commission
In a shocking turn of events, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, has accused India's Election Commission (ECI) and the BJP of widespread manipulation of voter rolls. The allegations, made on August 7, 2025, point towards large-scale deletions and fraudulent entries across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Karnataka, and specifically Mahadevapura in Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency [1][2][4][5].
Gandhi's claims are based on evidence of duplicate voter names, fictitious or commercial addresses, and non-machine-readable electoral rolls, which he presents as proof of voter fraud [1][2][4][5]. The Congress party, in support of these allegations, has organized high-profile protests and launched a dedicated portal for citizens to report electoral irregularities [6].
However, the Election Commission has officially refuted these allegations, labeling them as misleading and demanding that Gandhi substantiate his claims by submitting them under a signed oath as per election rules [1][3]. The ECI has criticized Gandhi for making what it terms “absurd conclusions” and misleading the public without verified proof [1][3].
In response, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations of vote theft raised by Gandhi. The petition argues that the integrity and credibility of the electoral rolls are at risk due to these serious claims of manipulation involving wrongful deletions and fraudulent insertions, which undermine the democratic principle of “one person, one vote” [2].
The scandal comes at a time when confidence in democratic institutions is fading all over the world, and India is affected by these trends. Some analysts see these developments as symptomatic of a broader decline in the perceived independence and trustworthiness of the Election Commission amid political pressures, urging urgent reforms to restore faith in India’s electoral system [4].
The Election Commission has demanded that Gandhi sign official oath notices to prove his claims of electoral roll manipulation. This demand has led to a standoff, with over 300 MPs attempting to march to the Election Commission office, resulting in police detentions, including Gandhi himself [7].
Independent analysis has emerged supporting some of Gandhi's concerns, identifying voter roll irregularities that align with his claims [8]. In light of these allegations, the immediate focus has shifted to Bihar, where the opposition parties are closely monitoring the SIR process. Gandhi has vowed to take action against the Election Commission once the INDIA bloc forms a government [9].
Despite the Election Commission's confrontational reaction, Gandhi has not backed down from the challenge. He has launched a "Vote Adhikar Yatra" (Voting Rights March) in Bihar, focusing on alleged electoral irregularities [10]. The BJP, on the other hand, has dismissed the accusations as sour grapes, suggesting that the Congress party only questions the Election Commission's integrity when they lose elections [11].
As the situation unfolds, the nation waits with bated breath for the outcome of the Supreme Court's investigation and the Election Commission's response to the mounting evidence of voter roll manipulation.
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