Rahul escalates poll panel row, calls for CEC’s exit
Calling vote the foundation of democracy, Gandhi alleges systematic manipulation of electoral rolls to undermine democratic safeguards
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of undermining India’s electoral system, calling them deshdrohis (traitors) and demanded the immediate resignation of the CEC.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in the Capital, Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had failed in its constitutional responsibility to protect voters’ rights and claimed that he had sufficient information to establish that recent elections were manipulated.
“This is an attack on the Constitution and the legal structure of the country,” Gandhi said, alleging that those responsible would eventually face consequences.
Gandhi also said PM Modi and Shah would be investigated over what he described as actions against the country. Addressing CEC Gyanesh Kumar directly, he urged him to “turn approver”, arguing that doing so would constitute an act of nationalism. “PM Modi and Home Minister Shah are both going to be investigated for what is being done. They are at the top of this conspiracy,” Gandhi alleged. Gandhi played videos featuring PM Modi and Shah and referred to statements about the BJP remaining in power for an extended period and the slogan Abki Baar 400 Paar.
He argued that prolonged electoral dominance was inconsistent with what he described as the normal impact of anti-incumbency in a democracy.
Citing examples from Indian political history, including the period following the 1971 Bangladesh war, Gandhi argued that Governments traditionally face anti-incumbency pressures over time.
He questioned why, in his view, such pressures had not produced similar results for the BJP.
Gandhi further alleged that the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections had been rigged and repeatedly used the phrase vote chori (vote theft) to describe what he claimed was manipulation of the electoral process.
“The vote is the foundation of our democracy,” Gandhi said, arguing that the Election Commission’s role in protecting the vote was central to safeguarding the Constitution and the country’s institutions.
He earlier said on X that the “enemies of the Constitution” had been exposed and that justice would be served. On Wednesday, Gandhi had also alleged that “vote chori” constituted a direct attack on the Constitution and accused the BJP, RSS and Election Commission of committing an act of treason.
Gandhi’s latest remarks followed a report by The Indian Express that highlighted disagreements among the three-member ECI over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, electoral software and handling of responsibilities.
According to the newspaper’s report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on record at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and orders related to the SIR process, including four objections on a single day. The report said the two commissioners objected to certain decisions because they were taken without their knowledge.
BJP hits back
New Delhi: The BJP hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after his news conference on Thursday, referring to him as a “frustrated leader who is not able to win people’s support through democratic means.”
The ruling party also charged him with making false claims. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi termed allegations of vote chori (vote theft) baseless and said the Congress leader is trying to hype up a media report on differences within the Election Commission of India (ECI) and between the election commissioners because of electoral setbacks his party has been facing and because he is jealous of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
