EC Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s “Vote Theft” Claim
Poll Panel Says It Invited LoP for Talks, but Received No Response; Cites "Baseless" and "Irresponsible" Allegations.
- The Election Commission of India dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote theft” as “baseless.”
- The EC stated that it had invited Gandhi for a discussion on voter rolls in June, but he never responded.
- Rahul Gandhi accused the EC of working for the BJP and claimed his party had “open-and-shut proof” of the alleged theft.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st July: The Election Commission of India (EC) has vehemently rejected allegations of “vote theft” made by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, calling them “baseless” and “irresponsible.” The poll panel revealed it had sent an email and a letter to Gandhi in June to discuss voter roll issues, but he had not responded.
Earlier in the day, while speaking to reporters about the Bihar Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the Congress leader had accused the EC of being involved in “vote theft” to benefit the BJP. “We have open-and-shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in this vote theft… and when we release it, the entire country will come to know that the Election Commission is enabling vote theft,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Gandhi escalated his criticism, calling the evidence his party had gathered an “atom bomb” that would expose the EC. He also issued a stark warning to the Commission’s staff, stating, “Whoever in the Elections Commission is involved… right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason.”
In a statement later, the EC dismissed Gandhi’s claims, noting that such “baseless allegations” are made on a daily basis. The statement pointed out that despite repeated attempts to engage, Gandhi had not sent any letter to the Commission on the issue. “It is very strange that he is making wild allegations and has now even started threatening EC and its staff. Deplorable!” the EC said, adding that it had asked all its officials to “ignore such irresponsible statements and work in a fair and transparent manner.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticized the Congress leader, accusing him of making “anti-India” statements and stating that a Leader of the Opposition should have the understanding to not harm the country’s image.
