Rahul Gandhi Accuses Election Commission of Facilitating Vote Theft
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during an INDIA bloc rally held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, November 1. During the event, Gandhi alleged irregularities in the electoral process, specifically accusing the Election Commission of facilitating manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and voter lists during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Gandhi claimed that the 2024 general election was illegal, stating that approximately 15 percent of voters had been removed from electoral rolls after the polls concluded. He asserted that these alleged manipulations undermined the democratic rights and representation of citizens, framing the removal of voters as a systematic effort to alter the electorate's composition.
The Congress leader warned that Gyanesh Kumar would eventually face legal action and go to jail over what he termed "vote chori" or vote theft. Gandhi stated that removing Kumar from his post was the first step toward restoring democratic institutions. He further asserted that the Opposition would hold those responsible accountable and pursue legal action regarding these allegations, emphasizing that the integrity of the electoral process had been compromised.
Coordinated Opposition Front Mobilizes in Delhi
The rally was organized by the INDIA bloc as part of its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protest march began from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and proceeded to Ramlila Maidan, following a symbolic public impeachment programme against CEC Gyanesh Kumar organized by INDIA bloc leaders on October 31.
Senior opposition figures attended the gathering at Ramlila Maidan. The attendees included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress supreme leader Mamata Banerjee, and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Tejashwi Yadav.
The presence of these leaders underscored the coordinated nature of the INDIA bloc's response to the Election Commission's recent actions. The group utilized the platform to collectively voice their dissent against the current administration of the electoral body, presenting a united front against the government's handling of electoral rolls.
Election Commission Defends SIR Process Amidst Political Backlash
The Election Commission has stated that the SIR exercise is intended to update electoral rolls by removing duplicate and ineligible entries. The commission rejected allegations of political bias, maintaining that the revision process is standard procedure for ensuring accurate voter records.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the Opposition’s accusations of electoral manipulation. The ruling party did not provide specific counter-arguments in the immediate reports but firmly rejected the claims made by Gandhi and other opposition leaders during the rally, characterizing them as politically motivated attempts to distract from governance issues.