Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reiterated his allegations of “vote theft”, claiming that the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are running a “partnership” to undermine citizens’ democratic rights.
Speaking at his Voter Adhikaar Yatra in Nawada, Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah and the ECI were working together to deprive people of their fundamental rights.
“There are lakhs of people in Bihar whose names were deleted from the voter list. The Election Commission and BJP are in partnership, stealing votes. This is your constitutional right, and we will not let them snatch it,” Gandhi said, flanked by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI(M) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya.
Gandhi also accused the poll body of manipulating voter rolls in Maharashtra, claiming that after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, one crore new voters were “magically” added, helping the BJP secure victory in the state assembly polls.
“We asked the Election Commission who these people are, but they don’t answer. They refuse to share videography. They changed the law and invented a new way of voter theft. The same is happening in Bihar now, in front of your eyes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc intensified its protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, staging demonstrations outside Parliament. Leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the protest, accusing the government of engaging in “Silent Invisible Rigging.”
On Sunday, the ECI refuted the allegations, holding a press conference to clarify its position on SIR in Bihar. The poll body also asked Rahul Gandhi to submit a signed affidavit with proof of his claims.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the Opposition to stop disrupting Parliament over the issue, stating that political parties should resolve disputes with the Election Commission directly rather than in the House.
