Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again raised concerns over alleged vote theft in 48 Lok Sabha constituencies, including Bengaluru Central, claiming irregularities similar to those previously highlighted in the 2024 elections. Gandhi’s accusations have sparked fresh debates within the party and the political landscape.

At a meeting with senior Congress leaders, chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Gandhi pointed to the narrow losses in these constituencies, where Congress candidates were defeated by the BJP. He suggested that the same pattern of irregularities observed in Bengaluru Central was seen across the other 47 seats. According to party sources, Congress plans to release detailed information about these constituencies in phases over the coming weeks.

In the 2024 general elections, the BJP won 240 seats, a decrease of 63 seats from the previous election, while Congress almost doubled its tally, rising from 52 to 99 seats. However, despite this significant gain, Gandhi has continued to voice concerns about alleged election malpractices, particularly after the Maharashtra assembly elections. He has repeatedly claimed that the Election Commission is working in conjunction with the ruling BJP.

On August 7, Gandhi introduced what he called an “atom bomb” of evidence against the Election Commission, citing data from the Mahadevapura assembly segment, which falls under Bengaluru Central. He accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP in rigging votes. However, the Election Commission has strongly denied these allegations and asked Gandhi to sign an affidavit to formalize his complaint. Gandhi has refused, stating that he has already sworn an oath to the Constitution.

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