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EYE ON INDIA OCTOBER 16, 2026 | The Indian Eye 8

Why is Rahul Gandhi escalating ‘vote

theft’ campaign and putting Election

Commission at centre of political battle

As INDIA bloc leaders intensify protests demanding the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation, the

confrontation over electoral rolls is emerging as a wider test of trust in India’s democratic institutions.

OUR BUREAU Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
were named in the details, while Ra-
New Delhi
hul Gandhi was detained on Wednes-
ongress leader Rahul Gand- day after he was seen trying to open a
hi has escalated his campaign barricaded gate.
Cagainst alleged “vote theft”, The BJP has strongly rejected the
accusing Prime Minister Narendra opposition’s allegations. Party presi-
Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and dent Nitin Nabin challenged Gandhi
Chief Election Commissioner Gya- to resign if he had the courage, ac-
nesh Kumar of undermining India’s cusing him of having an “anarchic
democracy, as opposition parties con- mindset”. BJP spokesperson Gaurav
tinued protests in the national capital Bhatia described the confrontation
and demanded the election chief’s as a battle between two ideologies
resignation. and defended Modi’s record, saying
Addressing the issue in a video the Prime Minister had respected the
posted on X on Thursday, Gandhi spirit of the Constitution.
said the alleged damage to demo- The ruling party has also argued
cratic institutions went back 10 to 15 that the opposition’s claims risk cre-
years and that the opposition’s cam- ating doubts about the electoral pro-
paign was part of a longer political cess without establishing its allega-
struggle rather than a short protest. tions. Union minister Chirag Paswan
He claimed that the INDIA bloc had said protests were an essential part
presented evidence of electoral irreg- of democracy and could strengthen
ularities in Karnataka, Maharashtra, accountability, but urged opposition
Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, and parties to seek answers directly from
referred to letters allegedly written Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi Travel by Bus to Raj the Election Commission rather than
by two Election Commissioners to Ghat to Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday (ANI Photo) repeatedly staging demonstrations.
the CEC expressing concerns about The dispute has widened beyond
the electoral system. Delhi. Senior RJD leader Tejashwi
“The matter is serious. The mat- peaceful tribute to Mahatma Gand- The protests have also become Yadav led a parallel demonstration
ter is from the last 10-15 years. In- hi in the spirit of satyagraha. It was a contest over the opposition’s abil- in Patna, while West Bengal Chief
dia’s democracy, its democratic func- the third consecutive day of demon- ity to sustain a common political Minister Mamata Banerjee said she
tioning, its Constitution have been strations in Delhi, with opposition campaign. The INDIA bloc has at- would join the INDIA bloc protests
damaged and destroyed,” Gandhi leaders vowing to continue their agi- tempted to frame the issue as one in the capital. Meanwhile, security
said. tation until Gyanesh Kumar resigned that extends beyond individual con- arrangements have been strength-
The Congress leader also or was removed from office over the stituencies or party interests, arguing ened ahead of further demonstra-
warned that the campaign would controversy surrounding electoral that the credibility of elections is fun- tions, with additional personnel de-
continue beyond the current demon- roll revisions. damental to democratic legitimacy. ployed for the CEC’s Z-plus security
strations and eventually lead to a Among those present were Gandhi said the movement was in- cover.
change of government, followed by Gandhi, Congress president Mal- tended to secure justice for citizens At the heart of the confrontation
an investigation into those responsi- likarjun Kharge and Congress MP and restore faith in democracy. lies a question that neither side can
ble for what he alleged was damage Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Kharge ac- However, the opposition has yet easily sidestep: public confidence in
to democracy. These claims have cused the government and the Elec- to announce its next course of ac- the electoral process. For the oppo-
been rejected by the ruling Bharatiya tion Commission of orchestrating tion. The demonstrations have also sition, the campaign offers a way to
Janata Party, which has accused the “vote theft”, describing it as an as- brought a confrontation with the unite parties around an institutional
opposition of creating disorder and sault on the Constitution. Other op- police, with Delhi Police registering issue and challenge the BJP’s polit-
undermining public confidence in position leaders alleged that names three FIRs following Wednesday’s ical dominance. For the ruling par-
constitutional institutions. had been illegally deleted from elec- protests. The cases cite alleged as- ty, rejecting the allegations and de-
The confrontation moved to Raj toral rolls and demanded that the sault on police personnel, obstruc- fending the Election Commission is
Ghat on Thursday, where leaders Election Commission restore public tion of government work, pushing essential to counter claims that the
of the INDIA bloc gathered for a confidence in the voting process. and manhandling, and misbehaviour. electoral system lacks credibility.

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