New Delhi: A political row has erupted in the Parliament Winter Session following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks regarding the selection of India's first Prime Minister. Shah alluded to "vote chori" (vote theft) in connection with Jawaharlal Nehru's appointment, sparking a strong reaction from the opposition.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore countered Shah's claims, asserting that Nehru's selection was based on Mahatma Gandhi's personal choice. Tagore stated that the accusations of electoral fraud were historically inaccurate.

The exchange occurred during a debate on electoral reforms in the Lok Sabha. Shah targeted the Congress, accusing its leaders of making baseless allegations about voter fraud while ignoring what he described as a long history of irregularities under previous Congress governments. He referenced historical political events, mentioning Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru in the context of "vote chori".

Rahul Gandhi challenged Shah to a debate, citing allegations of electoral fraud and referring to the Haryana elections. Gandhi claimed there were 19 lakhs of fake people were there. Shah dismissed the interruption, asserting his right to decide the order of his speech.

Shah said that the BJP remained in opposition for years and lost many elections but never leveled allegations against the poll panel. He further claimed that the opposition tries to tarnish the image of the Election Commission only after losing the election.

Countering Rahul Gandhi’s "vote chori" allegations, Shah stated that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had clarified the matter, stating that neither house addresses nor voters were fake. He was referring to Rahul Gandhi's November 5 press conference where he alleged that 501 votes were cast from just one house in Haryana. Shah said the Election Commission's explanation made clear there was nothing irregular about the address in question.

Tagore's response highlighted the historical perspective, emphasizing Gandhi's role in choosing Nehru. The Congress MP aimed to dispel what he framed as a distortion of historical facts.

The heated exchange underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding electoral processes and historical narratives. The session saw disruptions and walkouts, reflecting the deep divisions between the ruling and opposition parties.

The debate also touched upon the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, which the government defended as a necessary measure to remove ineligible voters. Shah stated that the purpose of SIR was to remove those who have died, add the names of those who have turned 18 and delete foreign nationals one by one. The opposition, however, raised concerns about the integrity of the voter lists and the autonomy of the Election Commission.

Following the exchange, Rahul Gandhi described Shah's response as "defensive and nervous," asserting that "vote chori" is the "biggest treason". He said that Amit Shah did not answer questions about transparent voter lists and providing EVM architecture.