PM Modi Silent as BJP Counters Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Theft Allegations
New Delhi, India – August 10, 2025
A political storm continues to brew following Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s explosive allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with no direct response yet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi, speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on August 7, 2025, and at the “Vote Adhikar Rally” in Bengaluru on August 8, accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate voter rolls, enabling Modi’s third term as Prime Minister. While Modi has remained silent on the issue, BJP leaders and the ECI have mounted a strong rebuttal, escalating the controversy.
Gandhi’s claims center on alleged electoral irregularities in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment, part of the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, where he alleged 1,00,250 “fake votes” were cast to secure a BJP victory. He cited specific irregularities, including 11,965 duplicate voters, 40,009 fake or invalid addresses, and 33,692 misuses of Form 6 for new voter registrations. Gandhi asserted that Modi’s government, which secured 293 seats with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) against the INDIA bloc’s 234, relied on a “slender majority” achieved through the theft of at least 25 seats won by margins under 35,000 votes. “Narendra Modi became Prime Minister through theft,” Gandhi declared at the Bengaluru rally, demanding that the ECI release digital voter lists and CCTV footage from polling booths.
While no official statement has come from the Prime Minister, senior BJP leaders have dismissed Gandhi’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Bangalore Central MP P.C. Mohan, whose constituency was directly implicated, challenged Gandhi’s claims, stating, “Rahul Gandhi talks of an atom bomb of evidence, but he’s yet to produce a single spark of proof.” Mohan argued that the BJP’s victory in Mahadevapura was driven by strong local support, particularly among Hindu voters, and questioned why Congress failed to file an election petition within the mandatory 45-day period. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Gandhi of “conspiring to weaken constitutional institutions,” while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis mocked the claims, suggesting, “Either Gandhi’s brain has been stolen, or the chip in his brain is missing.”
The ECI responded sharply, labeling Gandhi’s accusations “misleading” and demanding that he submit a signed declaration under oath to substantiate his claims, as required by Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, V. Anbu Kumar, noted that Congress had access to voter rolls during the 2024 Special Summary Revision but raised no objections at the time. The ECI warned that false allegations could invite penalties under Section 227 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and urged Gandhi to either provide evidence or apologize to the nation. Gandhi rejected the demand for an affidavit, stating, “I have already taken an oath in Parliament holding the Constitution,” and accused the ECI of suppressing evidence by destroying CCTV footage and withholding machine-readable voter data.
Support for Gandhi came from opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, who attended the Bengaluru rally. Siddaramaiah called for a state investigation into the alleged voter fraud, describing it as a “criminal act against the people of Karnataka.” Actor Prakash Raj and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray also backed Gandhi, urging Modi to address the nation on the issue. However, a post on X claiming “PM Modi backs Rahul Gandhi’s claims about election commission” was found to be unverified and lacks credible backing, casting doubt on its authenticity.
The controversy has amplified concerns about electoral integrity in India, with Congress alleging similar manipulations in Maharashtra and Haryana. The BJP, in turn, has accused Gandhi of defaming the ECI out of frustration over repeated electoral defeats. As the standoff continues, Modi’s silence leaves the BJP’s defense to his party colleagues, while the ECI prepares to meet a Congress delegation to review the allegations. The outcome of this confrontation could shape public trust in India’s electoral process ahead of upcoming state elections.
Sources: The Indian Express, Times of India, Hindustan Times, News18, ABP Live, posts on X
