ECI Dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Theft’ Allegation, Reasserts Impartiality

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly rebutted charges levelled by Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accusing the poll panel of being party to "vote chori" (vote theft) to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Reacting, the Commission strongly rejected the allegations as "baseless" and reaffirmed its determination to hold elections with impartiality, transparency, and fairness.

According to the Commission sources, "The Election Commission overlooks such frivolous allegations leveled on a daily basis and, notwithstanding repeated threats, advises all election officials — who are working impartially and transparently — not to pay heed to such irresponsible remarks.

The ECI also showed solidarity with poll staff nationwide and instructed them to stay firm and carry on with their duty, irrespective of what the Commission termed as "politically motivated" analysis.

Rahul Gandhi made the sensational comment at the Parliament building, claiming that the Congress party now possessed "open and shut" proof of electoral malpractice. He said the proof was so compelling, it would be an "atom bomb" on the Commission, with "no place to hide" once unleashed.

"I have stated 'vote chori' is on and now we have open and shut evidence that the Election Commission is a part of it," Gandhi asserted, referring to so-called irregularities initiated during the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls and extending to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and updation of voter lists in Maharashtra.".

This is not the first time Gandhi has openly doubted the integrity of the ECI. In June, Gandhi wrote an article claiming extensive rigging in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, terming "match-fixing" in seats where the BJP was expected to lose. He warned that if this was allowed, it would be a trend at forthcoming polls also.

In response to that article, EC sources said the Commission would not issue a formal response unless Gandhi made a formal representation, as Leader of Opposition.

Gandhi also asked for access to CCTV footage at polling stations in Maharashtra, particularly in the last few hours of polling, raising allegations of discrepancies.

In turn, EC sources explained that existing procedures already provide for questioning of such footage by the relevant high court, but only in the context of a proper official election petition. The Commission stressed that it conducts its affairs within constitutionally and legally established mechanisms for redress and expects all political players to stick to those due processes.