Rahul Gandhi Accuses Election Commission of Being 'Key Participant in Vote Theft Conspiracy'
In a scathing attack on India's electoral watchdog, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has declared that the Election Commission is "no longer the protector of democracy" but has instead become a "key participant in this conspiracy of vote theft." The allegations come amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in several states.
Gujarat SIR Labelled as 'Strategic Vote Chori'
Speaking out on Saturday, Gandhi specifically targeted the electoral revision process in Gujarat, describing it as a "well-planned, organised, and strategic vote chori" rather than a legitimate administrative exercise. The Congress leader emphasized that wherever SIR has been implemented, systematic vote theft has followed, fundamentally undermining the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote."
"Wherever there's SIR, there's vote theft," Gandhi stated in a Hindi post on social media platform X. "What is being done in Gujarat in the name of SIR is not any kind of administrative process - it is a well-planned, organised, and strategic vote chori."
Thousands of Objections Filed Under Same Name
The most alarming revelation, according to Gandhi, involves the submission of thousands of objections under the same name during the electoral revision process. He characterized this systematic manipulation as the "most shocking and dangerous thing" witnessed in recent electoral history.
Gandhi elaborated on the pattern, alleging that votes were selectively removed from specific communities and polling booths that traditionally support the Congress party. "Wherever the BJP sees a potential defeat, voters are simply made to disappear from the system," he claimed, suggesting a targeted approach to voter suppression.
Pattern of Electoral Manipulation Across States
The Congress leader pointed to what he described as a consistent pattern of electoral manipulation emerging across multiple states. "This same pattern was seen in Aland. The same thing happened in Rajura. And now the same blueprint is being implemented in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and every state where SIR has been imposed," Gandhi asserted, indicating what he views as a systematic, nationwide strategy.
His comments were made in response to allegations raised by the Gujarat Congress unit, which claimed that after initial vote theft revelations, the BJP had "adopted its next level model of election theft" through the SIR process.
Gujarat Congress Details Systematic Objection Manipulation
The state Congress unit provided specific details about the alleged manipulation, claiming that while only a handful of objections were received until January 15, millions of objections were suddenly submitted afterward in what they described as a coordinated conspiracy.
When the Election Commission released approximately 1.2 million objections, the pattern became clear according to Congress allegations:
- Rules were systematically flouted to target specific castes, communities, and regions
- Dozens of objections were filed in the name of a single person
- Signatures on objection forms often didn't match the named objectors
- The Election Commission allegedly remained a "complete mute spectator" to these irregularities
Institutional Failure and Lack of Accountability
The Gujarat Congress further alleged institutional failure, stating that when the main opposition party wrote letters requesting information about the objections, they received no response from electoral authorities. This lack of transparency, they claimed, makes election rigging "completely evident."
"This is because the Election Commission has mortgaged both its responsibility and accountability to the ruling party," the party claimed, echoing Gandhi's broader accusation that the electoral watchdog has fundamentally compromised its constitutional role.
The allegations come at a critical juncture in Indian democracy, raising serious questions about electoral integrity and institutional independence. As the Special Intensive Revision continues in multiple states, these accusations highlight growing concerns about the mechanisms governing India's electoral processes and the institutions tasked with safeguarding democratic principles.
