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EYE ON INDIA NOVEMBER 14, 2025 | The Indian Eye 8

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote-Chori’ Allegations

Escalate as Election Commission Faces

Heat Over Voter Roll Integrity

Congress leader has intensified his attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of

“murdering democracy” and alleging widespread manipulation of electoral rolls across states
under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise

OUR BUREAU tion, public display of draft rolls, and
an appeal mechanism for any ob-
New Delhi
jection. It ensures transparency and
ongress leader and Leader of fairness,” said an ECI official.
Opposition in the Lok Sabha, However, opposition parties
CRahul Gandhi, on Thursday have raised concerns that the exer-
launched one of his sharpest attacks cise could be “politically misused”
yet on the Election Commission of to selectively delete names, particu-
India (ECI), alleging “vote theft” and larly from urban, minority, or oppo-
“large-scale tampering” of voter lists. sition-leaning constituencies. Several
In a post on X, Gandhi accused Chief regional leaders have demanded that
Election Commissioner Gyanesh the ECI make the SIR audit process
Kumar and Election Commission- “fully public” to maintain credibility.
ers Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek The ruling Bharatiya Janata
Joshi of “murdering democracy” and Party (BJP) and NDA leaders have
turning the country’s elections into a strongly refuted Gandhi’s claims,
“mockery of the Constitution.” accusing him of “manufacturing ex-
“A few days ago, I undertook the cuses” ahead of upcoming state elec-
Voter Adhikar Yatra to raise aware- tions.
ness about how the Special Intensive BJP national president JP
Revision (SIR) process is being used Nadda said Gandhi was “creating
to manipulate electoral rolls. Re- false narratives to stay relevant.”
ports and videos from across India “Rahul Gandhi has already accepted
are strengthening the chain of evi- Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi speaks during a public meeting for the Bihar defeat in advance. He blamed EVMs
dence of vote theft. Lakhs of genu- assembly election at Kasba, in Purnia on Thursday (AICC/ANI Photo) earlier, now he is attacking the Elec-
ine voters have been deleted, and in tion Commission itself. His only aim
several places, citizens were stopped is to defame India and incite unrest
from voting,” Gandhi said. predicted Congress victory into a (SIR) of electoral rolls, at the heart among youth,” Nadda said.
Addressing India’s Gen-Z loss.” of Gandhi’s allegations, is a nation- The Election Commission reit-
and youth, he said, “A government Gandhi claimed his team found wide exercise conducted periodically erated that the SIR process has been
formed through vote theft never evidence of duplicate names, de- by the Election Commission to up- among the most transparent revi-
works for the people. Those who ceased individuals still listed as active date voter lists, remove duplicates, sions ever undertaken. “Voter lists
were appointed as guardians of de- voters, and large discrepancies be- and ensure clean rolls ahead of state are publicly displayed, shared with
mocracy have become partners in the tween postal ballots and booth-level and national polls. political parties, and subjected to
theft of your future.” results. “If the voter list is a lie, there According to the ECI, the SIR multiple audits before finalization,”
Gandhi’s remarks came just days is no democracy,” he said, warning process has recently been complet- said an ECI official in Delhi.
after his explosive press conference that “India’s democratic framework ed in Haryana and is underway or The Commission said that voter
on what he termed the “H Files”, in is being hollowed out from within.” scheduled to begin in several other registration data is now being digi-
which he alleged massive voter list ir- The Election Commission, how- states and Union Territories, includ- tally cross-referenced to eliminate
regularities during the 2024 Haryana ever, dismissed the charges as “po- ing Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, duplicates, and all revisions include a
Assembly elections. He claimed that litically motivated” and reminded Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West public claims and objections period,
25 lakh fake voters—or roughly one Gandhi that election outcomes can Bengal. Officials say the initiative ensuring that any party or citizen can
in every eight registered voters—had only be challenged through a for- aims to correct inaccuracies, stream- contest deletions or additions.
been added to Haryana’s rolls. mal Election Petition before a High line records using Aadhaar linkage, CEC Gyanesh Kumar defended
“We have crystal clear proof that Court. The Chief Electoral Officer and enhance voter participation his office’s record, stating, “Democ-
1 in 8 voters in Haryana is fake. This (CEO) of Haryana has also asked through updated data. racy thrives on participation and
is not an isolated incident; it’s part of Gandhi to file a sworn affidavit nam- Election officials have described accountability. The SIR is designed
a larger national pattern of electoral ing specific fake voters so that an of- the SIR as a cornerstone of India’s to strengthen both. False narratives
manipulation,” he said, adding that ficial inquiry can be launched. electoral modernization. “The pro- cannot weaken institutions built on
“a plan was set in motion to turn a The Special Intensive Revision cess involves door-to-door verifica- transparency.”

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