7 Aug 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau)A political storm erupted on Thursday after Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi made explosive allegations accusing the Election Commission (EC) of colluding with the ruling BJP to manipulate the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, pointing specifically to Bangalore Central as a key example of what he called “vote chori” — or election theft.
In a livestreamed presentation from Delhi, Gandhi claimed that the Congress party had unearthed data indicating widespread irregularities, including fake voters, duplicate entries, and bogus ballots, particularly in closely contested seats. The Bangalore Central constituency, which the Congress lost by a narrow margin of less than 3 percentage points, was highlighted as a “case study” in electoral malpractice.
“This is not a small issue — this is about the foundation of Indian democracy,” Gandhi said during the live address. “We believe the Election Commission, in coordination with the BJP, facilitated a systematic manipulation of votes in several key seats, including Bangalore Central.”
The Congress leader alleged that the voter rolls in the constituency were inflated, citing instances of multiple entries for the same individual and non-existent voters allegedly casting ballots. He further claimed that discrepancies in official data from the EC and voter turnout reports suggested clear anomalies.
EC Responds, Demands Evidence Under Oath
The Election Commission, in a swift and stern response, rejected the allegations as “baseless and irresponsible” and demanded that Rahul Gandhi submit all claimed evidence under oath. The EC emphasized that India’s electoral process is among the most robust and transparent in the world, with multiple safeguards in place.
“The Election Commission takes its constitutional duty seriously and strongly objects to unverified, sensational claims. We request Mr. Gandhi to formally submit evidence, if any, under affidavit so that it may be investigated as per the law,” said the EC in its statement.
Rahul Gandhi Doubles Down
Unfazed by the EC’s pushback, Gandhi hit back during a later interaction with reporters.
“What I say to the people of India is my word. Take it as an oath,” he said defiantly. “The data we are showing is the Election Commission’s own data — we are simply presenting it. If they have an issue, they need to explain the inconsistencies in their own numbers.”
He reiterated that the Congress party had conducted a seat-by-seat analysis of voting patterns, voter lists, and turnout numbers, which revealed “clear evidence of manipulation” in multiple states — including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana.
In his presentation, Gandhi made additional claims about the alleged presence of 1.2 million duplicate or fake voters across 60 Lok Sabha seats, most of which were tightly contested and won by the BJP. He alleged that in some booths, more votes were cast than registered voters, and that entire blocks of anti-BJP votes were systematically diluted or negated.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
Gandhi’s allegations have sparked fresh debate across the political spectrum. While Congress leaders rallied behind him, demanding an independent investigation, BJP leaders dismissed the claims as “desperation from a losing side.”
Union Minister and BJP spokesperson Smriti Irani accused Gandhi of “undermining democratic institutions” and “discrediting the will of the people.”
“Rahul Gandhi is insulting the Indian electorate. His party lost because the people rejected them, not because of some imagined conspiracy,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Congress party is reportedly preparing to submit a formal representation to the Election Commission, backed by technical data, legal opinions, and booth-level analysis, over the next few days.
As the controversy deepens, the EC has assured that any formal complaint backed with verifiable data will be examined thoroughly. However, until an official complaint is lodged, the issue remains largely in the realm of political narrative — with potential legal and institutional consequences if substantiated.