Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Election Commission Over Bihar Electoral Roll Revision

In a recent press conference, Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of India and the BJP of colluding to manipulate the electoral process in Bihar. He described the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll as a systematic method of vote theft, claiming that many voters' names were removed without proper justification. Gandhi emphasized the growing public support for the Opposition's claims during their ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', which aims to raise awareness about these alleged irregularities. The march, covering 1,300 km across 20 districts, is set to conclude in Patna on September 1, highlighting the Opposition's commitment to safeguarding electoral integrity.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 24, 2025, 13:33 IST

Rahul Gandhi's Accusations Against the Election Commission

During a press conference in Araria, Bihar, on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, launched a strong critique against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He described the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar as a systematic method of vote theft.

Gandhi asserted, "The SIR in Bihar represents an institutionalized approach to stealing votes. Numerous voters have had their names removed from the rolls; while the Opposition raises concerns, the BJP remains silent, indicating a collusion between the Election Commission and the BJP." He emphasized that the Opposition would not permit the BJP and the ECI to manipulate the electoral process in Bihar.

He further stated, "The Yatra is gaining momentum, with increasing public participation. It is evident that millions in Bihar resonate with our claims of vote theft, as reflected in the public's response. The Election Commission's duty is to provide an accurate voter list, which they failed to do in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka."

Gandhi continued, "We are pressuring the Election Commission to amend its practices. We will not allow such actions to occur in Bihar. The BJP has previously stolen elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, and we have demonstrated instances of vote theft in Karnataka."

When questioned about accusations of misleading the public and damaging the reputation of the Election Commission, Gandhi criticized the ECI for not requesting an affidavit from Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who had made similar allegations of vote theft in constituencies governed by the Opposition.

He remarked, "I presented data regarding Mahadevapura to the Election Commission, yet received no responses. While I was holding the press conference, the ECI requested an affidavit. Shortly after, Anurag Thakur conducted a similar press conference without the ECI asking him for an affidavit. I am unsure who inspired him to do so, but it raises questions about the ECI's impartiality."

Gandhi concluded by stating, "The media is aware of the Election Commission's affiliations. If they were truly neutral, an affidavit would have been requested from Anurag Thakur as well." Earlier in the day, Gandhi, alongside Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, continued their 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' on its eighth day in Purnea district.

The two leaders participated in the Yatra on motorcycles, aiming to spotlight alleged discrepancies in the SIR process in Bihar. This 16-day 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' spans 1,300 km across 20 districts and has been initiated by Opposition parties to protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, which they claim is an attempt at vote theft. The march is set to conclude in Patna on September 1.