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EYE ON INDIA SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 | The Indian Eye 8

“‘Vote Chori’ Row Escalates

as Opposition, BJP Exchange

Allegations Over Electoral Rolls”

Allegations of “vote theft” have intensified political rhetoric in India, with Con-

gress accusing the BJP of electoral irregularities while the ruling alliance and

Shiv Sena dismiss the claims as politically motivated.

OUR BUREAU vain. This is not just a yatra of Rahul
Gandhi; the slogan ‘Vote chor, gaddi
New Delhi
chhodd’ is echoing everywhere.”
he debate over alleged “vote Union Minister Annapurna
chori” (vote theft) has once Devi, however, criticised the opposi-
Tagain heated up Indian poli- tion for its slogans and claims, stat-
tics, with opposition leaders, the rul- ing that the INDIA alliance could
ing BJP, and allies exchanging sharp not provide proof when summoned
accusations over the integrity of elec- by the Election Commission. “The
toral rolls and the Special Intensive issue is not SIR, but the INDIA alli-
Revision (SIR) process. ance can clearly see that their defeat
Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora is certain. The people of Bihar have
slammed the Congress for question- decided to form an NDA govern-
ing the electoral system, urging the ment,” she said.
party to first address its internal dem- Adding fuel to the controversy,
ocratic deficits. In an interview with the Electoral Registration Officer
ANI, Deora said, “If a party doesn’t (ERO) of New Delhi issued a notice
have inner-party democracy, if the to Congress leader Pawan Khera for
party doesn’t conduct elections, the being registered as a voter in two
party doesn’t allow people to rise constituencies, a penal offence un-
on merit; instead, mediocrity is re- der the Representation of the Peo-
warded. Nobody will trust that party ple Act, 1950. Khera hit back at the
to fight for strengthening India’s de- Election Commission, accusing it of
mocracy. The first thing you have to bias in favour of the ruling party.
do is fix democracy within.” “While our complaints of vote
Deora, who left Congress in Jan- chori are disregarded, the EC rushes
uary 2024, also alleged that merit was to act against opposition members,”
suppressed in his former party, allow- he said, pointing to alleged fake vot-
ing mediocrity to flourish while side- ers in Mahadevapura, Karnataka.
lining capable leaders. “In your place, The Election Commission has
someone who’s mediocre at best is rejected allegations of vote manipu-
elevated. These are systems which, lation, asking Rahul Gandhi to file
if you want to fix India’s democracy, an affidavit supporting his claims,
start by fixing democracy in your own which he refused, citing his oath to
organisation,” he added. the Constitution. Meanwhile, Con-
The controversy gained mo- gress has said it will release constit-
mentum after Congress MP Rahul uency-wise details of alleged vote
Gandhi claimed “vote chori” in 48 Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi shows a copy of the constitution as he ad- theft in phases.
Lok Sabha constituencies, including dresses the gathering on the conclusion of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, in Patna (AICC/ANI Photo) The row has revived debates over
Bengaluru Central, asserting that electoral integrity, internal party de-
the BJP had allegedly manipulated mocracy, and the role of the Election
electoral rolls. Gandhi spearheaded tion Commission. The yatra, span- RJD MP Manoj Jha emphasized Commission in ensuring transparent
a 16-day-long ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ ning 25 districts, culminated in Patna the importance of voter rights, say- polls. As political parties gear up for
in Bihar, alongside Rashtriya Janata on Monday with participation from ing, “A person votes for employment, the Bihar Assembly elections, the
Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, leaders of the Congress, TMC, Shiv better health facilities and if this “vote chori” allegations are likely to
to draw attention to alleged vote Sena UBT, CPI(ML), and other IN- process becomes suspicious, the ef- remain a central theme in both cam-
theft and irregularities by the Elec- DIA bloc members. forts for bringing a change also go in paign rhetoric and public discourse.

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