In the wake of Rahul Gandhi's allegations of widespread "vote theft," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a counter-offensive, claiming voter fraud in constituencies held by prominent opposition leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and M.K. Stalin. This comes amidst heightened tensions surrounding the integrity of electoral rolls and the Election Commission's (EC) role in ensuring fair elections.
Rahul Gandhi has been vocal in his criticism of the EC, alleging that the commission is colluding with the BJP to manipulate voter lists and steal votes. He has cited examples of irregularities, such as duplicate voter entries and instances of individuals allegedly registered as voters multiple times. Gandhi has claimed that the Congress party lost approximately 70 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections by narrow margins, suggesting that these losses may have been due to voter fraud. He has also stated that the party plans to release details in phases about 48 constituencies where they believe "vote theft" occurred.
The BJP has vehemently denied these charges and has, in turn, accused the opposition of making baseless allegations to undermine the electoral process. As a counter-attack, the BJP has alleged that Sonia Gandhi was illegally added to the voter list 45 years ago, before she was an Indian citizen.
The EC has refuted Rahul Gandhi's claims, calling them "factually incorrect" and "misleading". The EC has presented evidence of transparency in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, including video testimonials from representatives of various political parties. The commission has also asked Gandhi to provide evidence to support his claims of voter fraud, which he has so far refused to do, stating that he has already sworn an oath to the Constitution.
The opposition's allegations and the BJP's counter-claims have led to a political uproar, with protests and accusations traded between the two sides. Opposition MPs were detained during a march to the EC office to protest alleged collusion between the Election Commission and the ruling BJP government. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was among those who attempted to climb barricades during the protest.
Several political figures have weighed in on the issue. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has supported Rahul Gandhi's claims, while Karnataka Cooperative Minister K.N. Rajanna has admitted to voter list irregularities during the Congress government's tenure.
The controversy over voter fraud has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the impartiality of the EC. Rahul Gandhi has demanded a "clean and pure" voter list, emphasizing the importance of "one man, one vote". The Congress party has announced a series of programs under the banner of "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" (Vote thief, vacate the seat). The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also alleged a "massive vote theft scam" and accused the BJP of "stealing votes".
The EC has maintained that its procedures are transparent and designed to ensure free and fair elections. However, the opposition's concerns about voter list irregularities and the BJP's counter-claims highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
