The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly rebutted recent allegations of electoral fraud made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, with senior BJP parliamentarian Anurag Thakur accusing Gandhi of attempting to destabilize India’s democratic institutions. Thakur alleged that Gandhi is intentionally trying to create situations akin to the political unrest seen in Nepal and Bangladesh. During a press conference on Thursday, Thakur accused the Congress leader of undermining democratic processes and misleading the Indian populace. His statements were a direct response to Gandhi’s recent assertions regarding alleged systematic voter deletions across several Indian states. Thakur stressed that while the Election Commission of India operates impartially, Gandhi is focused on eroding democratic institutions and generating public confusion.
The BJP leader drew comparisons to recent political instability in neighboring countries, implying that Gandhi’s actions are reminiscent of tactics used to incite unrest in those areas. The references to Nepal and Bangladesh relate to the recent political turmoil in both countries. Nepal saw significant unrest contributing to political instability, while Bangladesh experienced large protests that resulted in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over a year ago. Student-led demonstrations were also pivotal in the resignation of Nepal’s former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Thakur described Gandhi’s ongoing challenges to the Election Commission as indicative of the Congress party’s fundamental lack of faith in India’s democratic framework.
He accused the opposition of centralizing allegations in their political strategy, suggesting that Congress representatives often withdraw from substantiating their claims when pressed for evidence. Thakur criticized what he labeled as Gandhi’s tendency to make accusations without follow-through, particularly when formal verification processes are initiated. He alleged that when the Election Commission requests affidavits or formal documentation to support claims, Congress leaders do not comply, indicating a disconnect between their public statements and their willingness to pursue legal actions. Gandhi’s recent press conference included specific claims of electoral manipulation involving automated software systems, citing two constituencies as examples: Aland Assembly in Karnataka and Rajura Assembly in Maharashtra.
He alleged that 6,018 votes were attempted to be deleted in Karnataka’s Aland Assembly in 2023, while claiming that 6,850 fraudulent entries were added online in Maharashtra’s Rajura Assembly. In response to the specific allegations regarding Aland Assembly, Thakur highlighted what he saw as a contradiction in Gandhi’s claims, noting that the Congress candidate had actually won the election in that constituency in 2023. He questioned the rationale behind alleged vote manipulation in a seat where Congress emerged victorious. Thakur acknowledged that attempts at electoral manipulation had occurred in Aland but emphasized that the Election Commission had taken appropriate action by directing the filing of a First Information Report in the case.
He revealed that the election authority had already provided relevant mobile phone numbers and IP addresses to investigators as part of the inquiry process. The BJP leader questioned the effectiveness of the investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department in Congress-ruled Karnataka, asking what progress had been made despite the availability of technical evidence. Thakur’s rhetorical question implied that if vote theft had occurred and Congress still won the seat, it would implicate the party in the very practices they claim to oppose. The Election Commission has responded to Gandhi’s latest allegations by categorically dismissing them as incorrect and baseless.
The electoral authority maintained that the technical infrastructure of India’s voting systems makes online vote deletion impossible, directly contradicting the Congress leader’s claims about digital manipulation. The ongoing dispute reveals deeper tensions between India’s major political parties regarding electoral integrity and the credibility of democratic institutions. This exchange highlights competing narratives about the reliability of India’s electoral processes, with each side questioning the other’s commitment to fair democratic practices. This political confrontation occurs amid broader discussions about electoral reforms and transparency in India’s democratic system, with various stakeholders advocating for enhanced oversight mechanisms and increased public confidence in electoral processes.