Rahul Gandhi Alleges 'Vote Chori' in Haryana, EC Issues Fact-Check

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has ignited a political firestorm by alleging widespread electoral fraud in Haryana, prompting a strong response from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Gandhi claims that approximately 25 lakh "bogus" votes were present in the electoral rolls, representing roughly one in eight votes in the state. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of colluding with the ECI to manipulate the election results.

Gandhi's accusations include claims of duplicate and invalid entries in voter lists. He further alleged that a photograph of a Brazilian model was used to cast votes multiple times. These claims, he argues, point to a larger scheme to undermine the democratic process. Gandhi has demanded that the ECI release electronic voter lists from the past 10 to 15 years, along with CCTV footage from recent polls, to ensure transparency. He warned that any election officer involved in the alleged manipulation would face consequences, regardless of their seniority.

The ECI has vehemently denied Gandhi's allegations, dismissing them as "incorrect and baseless". The commission has issued notices to the Congress leader, urging him to sign an official oath, as per the Registration of Electors Rules 1960, to substantiate his claims with evidence. The ECI argues that if Gandhi believes his claims are true, he should formalize them; otherwise, he should refrain from misleading citizens.

Chief Electoral Officers from Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana have also responded, requesting Gandhi to sign for verification of ineligible voters. The ECI maintains that it has already shared all available information regarding alleged attempts to delete votes ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections with the relevant authorities. They also stated that no vote deletion can be done online by any member of the public. In one specific instance, the ECI countered Gandhi's claim regarding a voter in Karnataka, Shakun Rani, stating that the document presented by Gandhi as proof of double voting was fake.

Gandhi has launched a "vote-chori" website to gather public support for his demand for digital voter rolls. He has also accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of shielding "vote chors" and those who have "destroyed democracy". He cited data from the Aland constituency, alleging that names of Congress supporters were systematically deleted ahead of elections, and accused the CEC of blocking a probe into the matter.

The BJP has defended the ECI and challenged Gandhi to provide concrete proof of his allegations. The party has also accused Gandhi of supporting the inclusion of certain immigrant groups in voter lists.

The accusations and counter-accusations have created a tense political atmosphere, with the opposition demanding greater transparency in the electoral process and the ruling party defending the integrity of the ECI. The controversy raises critical questions about the fairness and reliability of India's voting system and highlights the deep-seated mistrust between political rivals. It remains to be seen whether Gandhi will provide the evidence demanded by the ECI and what the long-term consequences of this dispute will be for Indian democracy.