BJP Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Vote Theft’ Claims

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, “It is correct that anti-incumbency definitely is very consistent and strong against the Congress. The Congress has not returned to power in Tamil Nadu since 1967 and since 1977 in West Bengal, where there was a Communist government for 34 years then Mamata Banerjee formed three governments.”

“Definitely, during the era when the Congress also had governments for a long period of time, there were no voter ID cards, booth capturing used to take place, ballot boxes were looted, bullets were fired in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, there was hardly an election when some people were not killed and injured. Even then, anti-incumbency did not work against the Congress,” he added.

Gandhi Questions Chief Election Commissioner

Gandhi accused Kumar of being a traitor and said he should resign. He also asserted that the Congress will not remain quiet and watch democracy "being destroyed" in India. The leader also said that all elections are "rigged" adding why PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are not facing anti-incumbency.

"The Election Commission is the institutional protector of the vote. I have shown it with proof, and there is already more than enough information to make this a 100 % certainty that Indian elections, Lok Sabha elections, 2024 election, Vidhan Sabha elections are all being rigged," Gandhi said.

"Indira Gandhi was at the height of her popularity after she won the Bangladesh war (in 1971) and then faced massive anti-incumbency and pressure within a year or two. The same thing happens to leader after leader, to Congress leaders and to regional parties. But, for some reason, it does not happen to PM Modi, Amit Shah and the BJP," he added.

Congress Alleges Vote Theft

Rahul Gandhi added that Congress has brought up the issue of vote theft multiple times but the institutional framework of India was not concerned.

"Gyanesh Kumar, two election commissioners, are raising questions on that man. I have been raising questions. Those questions were ignored. People of India believed it. But the institutional framework of India was not interested. Gyanesh Kumar was chosen by the Prime Minister of India, not by anybody less. He was chosen by Amit Shah," he said.

"Now two election commissioners are saying that Mr Gyanesh Kumar is responsible for the chaos and the damage that has taken place to our voting system. From vote-chori comes Kanun-chori. From Kanun-chori comes Sanstha chori — institutions. This is the chain that has taken place," he added.

Election Commissioners Raise Objections

An Indian Express report claimed there was divergence between the EC members on the issue of SIR of electoral rolls. It said two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had objected formally at least 14 times in the past 10 months against actions and orders related to electoral roll procedures.

The Election Commission, though, called the questions and observations made by the Commissioners normal internal communications of its day to day functioning. It pointed out that written notes, technical inputs and internal scrutiny are common terms used to monitor legality and voters' interests.