Rahul Gandhi Accuses Election Commission of Vote Theft Amidst Strong Denials

In a bold statement, Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of participating in vote theft, claiming to have substantial evidence. The Election Commission has firmly rejected these allegations, labeling them as baseless. Gandhi's remarks come in the wake of the Congress party's ongoing concerns about electoral integrity, particularly regarding the recent Maharashtra elections. He has vowed to hold accountable those involved in any misconduct, regardless of their position. This escalating political tension raises questions about the transparency of the electoral process in India. Discover the details of this developing story and the implications for the political landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2025, 18:27 IST

Allegations of Electoral Misconduct

On Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted that his party possesses undeniable evidence of the Election Commission's involvement in what he termed 'vote theft'.

In response, the Election Commission dismissed Gandhi's claims as unfounded and instructed its officials to disregard his 'irresponsible remarks'.

Addressing the media outside Parliament, Gandhi stated, 'Those within the Election Commission who are part of this scheme, from top to bottom, will not escape accountability.'

He further accused them of acting against the interests of the nation, labeling their actions as tantamount to treason.

Gandhi vowed to track down any compromised officials, regardless of their retirement status.

He described the evidence his party holds regarding alleged electoral irregularities as powerful as an 'atom bomb'.

The Election Commission responded by emphasizing that it routinely faces baseless allegations and urged its officials to maintain fairness and transparency in their work.

Gandhi and the Congress party have consistently claimed that the Maharashtra elections, held in November, were marred by extensive rigging, which they argue involved the manipulation of national institutions.

The BJP-led coalition emerged victorious against the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress party.

Earlier, on July 23, Gandhi alleged that the Congress had uncovered significant electoral fraud in Karnataka, promising to present this evidence to the Election Commission.

He has also accused the Election Commission of facilitating 'vote theft' during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, demanding the immediate release of digital voter rolls and CCTV footage.

This demand followed a report indicating a notable increase in voters in Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' constituency between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

In February, the Congress party questioned the Election Commission regarding the number of registered voters in Maharashtra, which exceeded the state's adult population.

Gandhi had previously urged the Commission to clarify why there was a surge in voter registrations in the lead-up to the Assembly elections compared to the previous five years.

The Election Commission labeled the attempts to tarnish its reputation by parties facing electoral defeat as 'completely absurd'.