Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi's "vote chori" (vote theft) campaign, accusing the Congress leader of spreading lies and attempting to mislead the public. Fadnavis's remarks come in response to Gandhi's allegations of electoral manipulation and irregularities against the Election Commission.

Fadnavis has dismissed Gandhi's claims as baseless and politically motivated, asserting that there is no evidence of vote theft. He has accused Gandhi of trying to defame Maharashtra in other states, such as Bihar, with his false allegations. Fadnavis stated that the opposition's "minds have been stolen," implying that their accusations are a result of their own failures and shortcomings.

The Chief Minister has also mocked Gandhi's claims, comparing them to a fictional script written by Salim-Javed, a famous Bollywood screenwriting duo. Fadnavis suggested that Gandhi is presenting an entertaining script but lacking factual evidence to support his allegations. He further claimed that Gandhi is attempting to deflect attention from his own failures by making these accusations.

Fadnavis highlighted the Election Commission's efforts to revise voter lists and accused Gandhi of opposing these revisions to conceal his shortcomings. He questioned Gandhi's motives, suggesting that he does not understand the process and is simply looking for excuses. The Election Commission has also refuted Gandhi's claims as baseless, drawing parallels to past allegations made by other Congress leaders.

The controversy began earlier this month when Rahul Gandhi alleged large-scale manipulation of voter lists in a Karnataka constituency, claiming that over one lakh votes were involved. He followed up with a video citing alleged voter fraud across multiple states. However, the Election Commission has strongly rejected these accusations, demanding that Gandhi provide concrete proof or publicly apologize.

Fadnavis has also accused other opposition leaders, such as Raj Thackeray, of backing Gandhi's "vote chori" claims and attempting to mislead their supporters. He suggested that these leaders are trying to mask their internal failures by making these allegations.

In a separate development, Fadnavis has accused the Congress of "vote chori" amid allegations that family members and associates of senior Congressman Prithviraj Chavan were involved in voting in more than one place. Fadnavis amplified the allegations made by BJP MLA Dr. Atul Bhosale, who had defeated Chavan in the Karad South seat. He stated that the Congress stands exposed and that Rahul Gandhi must respond to these revelations.

Overall, Fadnavis's strong response to Rahul Gandhi's "vote chori" campaign reflects the intense political battleground and the accusations and counter-accusations between the ruling and opposition parties. The controversy raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the responsibility of political leaders to present accurate information to the public.