Rahul Gandhi Exposes Electoral Manipulation: Allegations of Voter Fraud and Institutional Capture in Indian Democracy

New Delhi:

Rahul Gandhi launched a critique of the BJP on Tuesday, referencing last month's controversy where a Brazilian woman's photo appeared 22 times in Haryana's voter list, and accused the ruling party of collaborating with the Election Commission to commit 'vote chori' in recent elections, including in Bihar on November 14.

"There is no bigger anti-national act than 'vote chori'," Gandhi asserted during a debate on electoral reforms, responding to critics who frequently label the Congress and him as 'anti-national' – most recently in Monday's 'Vande Mataram' controversy.

"A Brazilian woman appeared 22 times in Haryana voter lists... another woman's name appeared 200 times. The Haryana election was stolen. I have stated this repeatedly... yet the Election Commission has not addressed my questions."

"The EC hasn't explained why lakhs of duplicate voters exist. The EC provides no answers. It's evident you have captured the institution. I've demonstrated how the EC is operating completely inappropriately."

"Why was the Chief Justice of India removed from the panel that selects Election Commissioners? Don't we trust the Chief Justice? Why wasn't he present? I attend the meetings... but have no voice," he continued, highlighting another controversy – the government's removal of the Chief Justice, the only non-political member of that panel.

The panel also includes the Prime Minister and a union minister nominated by the PM, giving the ruling party or alliance control over poll panel nominations.

"Why do the PM and Amit Shah determine who serves on the Election Commission? This government also amended the law to protect election commissioners from punishment for actions taken during their tenure. Why grant such powers..."

"Amit Shah is looking at the ceiling," Gandhi remarked mid-speech, "Perhaps he will address this question during his turn to speak."

Gandhi has delivered three PowerPoint presentations to date – two in August presenting data suggesting voter fraud in Karnataka Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections, and a third in September claiming centralized, mass-deletion of voter names.

He has argued this is only possible with active EC assistance.

In each presentation, he accused the EC and BJP of collaborating to manipulate voter rolls, ensuring the BJP's unprecedented series of electoral victories since coming to power in 2014.

The Election Commission and ruling party have consistently dismissed these allegations and requested definitive proof – which Gandhi claims he provided in his presentations.

"Electoral reform... this is straightforward but nobody wants to implement it. The government doesn't want to implement it," Gandhi continued, also referencing controversies surrounding Electronic Voting Machines, which opposition parties claim have been manipulated to favor the BJP.

He criticized the BJP over legislation providing legal immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and deputies for decisions made while in office – warning the Election Commission, "Don't worry, we will reverse it and we will find you."

Gandhi, also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP's ideological foundation, accusing it of 'wholesale capture' of India's institutional framework – including education, law enforcement, and electoral systems.

"Everything stems from the vote... all institutions emerge from the vote. So naturally, the RSS must capture everything arising from the vote," he stated, "Everyone knows how Vice-Chancellors are appointed to universities today... their professional qualifications are irrelevant. The only requirement is membership in a particular organization."

The "capture" of the CBI and ED (Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, both reporting to the union government) and strategic placement of ideologically aligned bureaucrats represents the second phase of this process, according to Gandhi.

"The third is the institution overseeing national elections – the Election Commission. I'm not making unsubstantiated claims. I've presented sufficient evidence..." he concluded.