The Election Commission (EC) has strongly rebutted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent accusations of voter fraud, calling his claims “old wine in a new bottle.” Gandhi’s allegations, centered on voter list irregularities allegedly influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have once again sparked a heated exchange between him and the poll panel.
On Friday, the Election Commission dismissed the allegations, recalling a similar controversy from 2018, when the Congress had attempted to mislead the Supreme Court about errors in the voter list in Madhya Pradesh. At that time, the Congress sought access to a searchable version of the voter list, arguing there were double registrations, but the court rejected the plea, citing the matter as already rectified by the EC.
In a statement, the EC pointed to a specific case involving a voter, Aditya Srivastava, who had been registered in three states. The Commission clarified that the issue had already been corrected months ago. It further criticized Gandhi for revisiting issues settled by the Supreme Court and accused him of sensationalizing the matter to mislead the public.
Gandhi, who has persistently called for a searchable voter list, escalated his claims on Thursday, presenting a detailed analysis at an opposition rally. He alleged that the voter fraud had cost his party key seats in the 2024 elections, particularly in Karnataka and Maharashtra. He cited the Mahadevapura Assembly seat in Bengaluru, claiming over 100,000 fraudulent votes were cast.
In response, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya dismissed Gandhi’s allegations, labeling them a political stunt aimed at undermining the credibility of the Election Commission, a constitutional body responsible for ensuring free and fair elections.
The Election Commission has urged Gandhi to respect the law, demanding that he either apologize for his unfounded claims or sign a declaration affirming their truth. As the political debate over voter list integrity intensifies, the Commission’s strong stance sets the stage for further legal and public confrontations.
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