"We Are Not Afraid Of Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations": ECI Lists 5 Counters To 'Vote Chori' Charge
Ne Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday at 3 PM mounted a sharp defence against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
At a high-profile press conference in the capital, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar made it clear that the institution “does not fear false allegations” and will continue to stand “like a rock” with voters of all sections without discrimination.
Without naming Rahul Gandhi directly, the CEC underlined that the CEC would not allow politics to be played at the cost of voter trust, calling the charges “an insult to the Constitution.”
He also issued an ultimatum, asking those who presented a PowerPoint presentation accusing the EC of misconduct to submit an affidavit within seven days or issue a public apology.
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Here are five key takeaways from the Election Commission’s rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi’s claims:
1. “Provide Proof or Apologise”
The Election Commission has demanded that those who made the “vote chori” presentation must either back their charges with an affidavit or issue an apology. If no affidavit is submitted within a week, the allegations will be treated as false.
2. Transparency in Electoral Roll Revision
The EC reminded that the SIR process in Bihar involves 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from across parties, working together with booth-level officers and voters to correct the rolls. A draft list has already been shared with stakeholders, and verified signatures from political parties are part of the record. “How can manipulation happen in a process that is so open and participatory?” asked Kumar.
3. Double Voting Allegations Rejected
Responding to recent media reports on “double voting,” the CEC clarified that no proof had been submitted despite repeated requests. “In a system where over 10 lakh booth-level agents and more than 20 lakh polling agents oversee the process, such claims hold no ground,” he said.
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4. Warning Against Misuse of Voter Data
The Commission condemned the unauthorised use of voter photographs in the media, stressing that voter privacy must be protected. It also warned against the dangers of deepfake content and AI manipulation, which could distort electoral processes and mislead the public.
5. Call for All Parties to Join the Process
CEC Gyanesh Kumar appealed to all political parties to submit objections or corrections by September 1, when the Bihar SIR concludes. He also clarified that the dates for West Bengal’s SIR will be announced “at an appropriate time” by the three commissioners.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, joined by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, has been leading a 1,300-km Voter Adhikar Yatra across Bihar, protesting alleged irregularities in the rolls. The march will cover 25 districts and culminate in a rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on September 1.
The Congress has accused the ECI of “crossing all limits of shamelessness” and demanded greater transparency, including the release of machine-readable electoral rolls and CCTV footage.
In his closing remarks, CEC Gyanesh Kumar reiterated that the EC is committed to its constitutional mandate. “The Election Commission stands like a rock with every voter, rich or poor, man or woman, young or old, across all communities. We will never step back from our duty to safeguard democracy,” he said.
