Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the opposition, has made a startling accusation against the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the poll body is colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to steal votes. Gandhi claims his party possesses irrefutable evidence, comparing it to an "atom bomb," which, when revealed, will leave the ECI with "no place to hide".

Gandhi's accusations stem from suspicions of electoral irregularities in several states, including the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Maharashtra. He stated that the Congress party grew suspicious after the Madhya Pradesh elections, and these suspicions were further solidified after the Lok Sabha polls. The situation in Maharashtra, where a large number of voters were allegedly added to the rolls in a short period, deepened their concerns. According to Gandhi, the ECI did not provide adequate assistance in addressing these concerns, prompting the Congress to conduct its own six-month investigation, which uncovered what he describes as "damning evidence".

Speaking to reporters, Gandhi asserted that he has "open and shut proof" that the Election Commission is involved in "vote chori" (vote theft). He declared that he is not making these accusations lightly and has 100% proof. He stated that as soon as the evidence is released, the entire country will know that the EC is engaging in vote theft for the benefit of the BJP.

Gandhi didn't hold back in his criticism of the ECI officials, warning that those involved in the alleged "vote theft" would not be spared. He accused them of working against India and committing treason, asserting that they would be held accountable, regardless of their current or retired status.

The Election Commission has strongly refuted these allegations, dismissing them as baseless. The ECI stated that it routinely ignores such accusations and has instructed its officials to do the same. The poll body has also emphasized that the Lok Sabha elections concluded over a year ago, and no election petitions were filed by losing Congress candidates.

The BJP has also criticized Gandhi's remarks, denouncing his language as "undemocratic and undignified". BJP MP Sambit Patra questioned Gandhi's threat to "explode like a bomb" on the Election Commission, suggesting that the Congress party has no faith in democracy. Patra retorted that if the Congress attempts to "explode a bomb," the BJP would "save the Constitution".

The accusations come amidst ongoing protests by opposition parties against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition leaders have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker, urging a special discussion on the voter list revision, alleging that the SIR exercise is aimed at disenfranchising voters ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.