The Lok Sabha witnessed a fiery debate on electoral reforms on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, with Rahul Gandhi launching a scathing attack on the Election Commission (EC) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gandhi accused the EC of being "captured" and colluding with the BJP to undermine Indian democracy. He alleged "vote chori" (vote theft), calling it the "biggest anti-national act".
Gandhi questioned the integrity of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging large-scale voter deletions and irregularities. He cited instances of duplicate photos and a "Brazilian woman" appearing multiple times on voter lists in Haryana and Bihar, implying manipulation. He claimed the Haryana elections were "stolen" and that the EC played a role in ensuring the theft.
Gandhi raised three specific questions, aimed to highlight the BJP's alleged influence over the EC. These included: Why was the Chief Justice of India removed from the selection panel for Election Commissioners? Why did the government grant unprecedented immunity to Election Commissioners in December 2023? Why is CCTV footage of polling stations destroyed after 45 days?
The Congress leader also presented four demands for electoral reform. He urged the EC to provide machine-readable voter lists to all political parties one month before elections, reverse the law allowing destruction of CCTV footage after 45 days, grant unrestricted access to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and change the law that allows Election Commissioners to get away with whatever they want to do. Gandhi warned the EC, stating that the Congress party would change the law retroactively and "come and find" those responsible for electoral malpractices.
The BJP strongly refuted Gandhi's accusations. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the Congress of misleading the public about mass voter deletions, questioning why Congress governments conducted SIR for years if it was illegal. BJP leaders asserted that the SIR is a routine annual exercise and that the EC functions independently. BJP MP Anurag Thakur claimed the Congress had lost over 95 elections under Gandhi's leadership and would hit a "century of defeats" in 2026. Sambit Patra criticized Gandhi's remarks as a "sign of arrogance and ignorance". Another BJP MP, Narhari Amin, accused Gandhi of repeatedly raising unsubstantiated allegations regarding the SIR process.
The debate also saw disruptions as Gandhi targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing it of capturing educational institutions, investigative agencies, and now the Election Commission. This led to protests from Treasury Bench members, with some BJP MPs defending the RSS and its role in society.
The Opposition united in demanding structural reforms to restore the autonomy and credibility of the Election Commission. They argued that democracy itself is at risk if the poll body continues functioning without independence. The government, however, has so far rejected the Opposition's allegations, maintaining that the SIR is a routine exercise and the EC operates independently.
