Rahul Gandhi Intensifies 'Vote Chori' Allegations: Claims BJP, RSS, and Election Commission Orchestrate Systematic Voter Fraud
New Delhi, September 1, 2025, 9:14 PM IST Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has escalated his accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging a coordinated conspiracy to manipulate electoral rolls in what he terms "Vote Chori" or vote theft. With key state elections looming in Bihar, Haryana, and Maharashtra, Gandhi has promised "explosive revelations" backed by evidence to expose widespread voter fraud, intensifying a political storm that threatens to undermine public trust in India’s electoral process.
Genesis of the Allegations
The controversy gained momentum on August 7, 2025, when Gandhi addressed a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi. He claimed to possess an "atom bomb" of evidence proving large-scale voter fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura assembly constituency. Gandhi alleged over 100,000 votes were compromised through duplicate voter entries, fake addresses, and suspicious bulk registrations via Form-6 applications. He accused the ECI of complicity by refusing to provide machine-readable voter lists and destroying CCTV footage from polling stations, calling it a "democratic theft" orchestrated to offset anti-incumbency against the BJP.
Gandhi’s campaign has since expanded to other states. During the opposition’s 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar’s Siwan on August 29, 2025, he claimed 65 lakh voters’ names were deleted from electoral rolls without justification. In Maharashtra, he alleged over one crore fake voters were added in just five months following the 2024 elections. Haryana, too, was cited as a hotspot for similar manipulations. Gandhi has warned ECI officials of consequences, stating, “No matter how senior or junior, every polling officer involved will face accountability when the opposition comes to power.”
He further linked the alleged fraud to a “Gujarat model” of electoral manipulation, claiming it originated under BJP rule in Gujarat and has been scaled nationally. Gandhi tied these accusations to broader critiques of crony capitalism, alleging, “They will take away your ration card, land, and hand it to Adani and Ambani.”
Evidence Presented by Congress
At the August 7 press conference, Gandhi presented data purportedly from internal Congress investigations:
Duplicate Voters**: 11,965 duplicate entries in Mahadevapura.
Fake Addresses**: 40,009 invalid or non-existent addresses.
Suspicious Registrations**: 33,692 questionable Form-6 submissions.
Bulk Voter Additions**: Over one crore new voters allegedly added in Maharashtra between June and November 2024, deemed statistically implausible.
The opposition, including INDIA bloc allies, has amplified these claims through rallies and social media. A widely shared video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee dubbed the ECI the “Election Chori of India,” echoing Gandhi’s narrative. In Bihar, rally attendees reported instances of BJP MLAs allegedly pressuring Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to delete opposition voters’ names, with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) acting as RSS proxies. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee hailed Gandhi’s exposé as a “bombshell” revealing ECI-BJP collusion.
Legal experts within the opposition argue that while post-election challenges face hurdles—requiring an election petition within 45 days under the Representation of the People Act—the ECI’s constitutional mandate under Article 324 necessitates an independent investigation. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court on August 20 demands a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and a halt to further voter roll revisions until the allegations are addressed.
Election Commission’s Rebuttal
The ECI has categorically rejected Gandhi’s allegations, calling them “baseless” and an “insult to the Constitution.” Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, on August 8, demanded that Gandhi submit evidence under oath per Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, or issue a public apology. Election officials in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana have similarly called for formal complaints with verifiable proof.
Critics have pointed out that Rule 20 applies only during the 30-day draft roll revision period, not post-election, raising questions about the ECI’s procedural response. Kumar, on August 17, dismissed the claims as political posturing, asserting that “the public knows the truth.” The ECI’s credibility has come under international scrutiny, with the BBC noting it faces a “test of credibility” amid voter roll concerns.
BJP’s Counteroffensive
The BJP has labeled Gandhi’s allegations “desperate” and “insulting to voters,” accusing him of deflecting from Congress’s electoral losses. The party highlighted alleged voter anomalies in opposition strongholds like Wayanad (Gandhi’s constituency), Rae Bareli, and Mainpuri, held by INDIA allies. The BJP’s Karnataka unit posted on X, refuting claims of “fake voters” by sharing images of real citizens with valid IDs, stating, “India’s rejection of Congress doesn’t make voters fake.”
BJP leaders have challenged Gandhi to pursue legal action if his evidence is robust, suggesting the accusations are a ploy for political relevance. The party has also lodged complaints with the ECI, decrying the opposition’s “relentless attacks” on the commission’s integrity.
Political and Social Ramifications
The controversy has fueled a broader debate on electoral integrity. The Deccan Herald framed it as Gandhi’s “fight to save democracy or bid for a comeback,” while The Indian Express urged the ECI to address concerns about “phantom voters.” Social media platforms, particularly X, are rife with polarized narratives, with hashtags like #VoteChori and #ElectionFraud trending.
As state elections approach, the allegations risk eroding public confidence in the ECI. Gandhi’s promise of further revelations, including on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has galvanized the opposition, with INDIA bloc leaders rallying behind the cause. The ECI’s response—whether through an inquiry or legal measures—will be pivotal, as calls grow for transparency in voter data and polling station surveillance records.
This escalating battle underscores deep political fault lines, with significant implications for India’s democratic framework as the 2025 elections loom.
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