Rahul Gandhi Demands “Clean and Pure” Voter List

Addressing the media while being detained, Gandhi accused the ECI of remaining silent despite clear evidence of voter list manipulation, stating, “They cannot talk as the truth is before the entire nation.” He emphasized that the protest was not a political stunt but a fight to safeguard the Constitution and ensure electoral integrity.

“This fight is for a clean, pure voter list,” he declared, demanding that the ECI release digital voter rolls in machine-readable formats to allow public and party audits. Gandhi highlighted the ECI’s refusal to provide such data, noting that the current paper-based voter lists—described as “seven feet of paper”—make it nearly impossible to detect duplicate or fraudulent entries efficiently.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi, Top Opposition Leaders Detained During EC Protest

The controversy stems from broader concerns about voter list integrity across India. Gandhi’s allegations, first raised on August 7, 2025, during a press conference, pointed to similar issues in Maharashtra’s 2024 assembly elections and cited internal Congress analysis showing unexpected losses in Karnataka, where the party anticipated 16 Lok Sabha seats but secured only nine.

Gandhi claimed the ECI’s refusal to share electronic voter data confirms suspicions of systemic manipulation, particularly in BJP-won constituencies. The Congress has launched a “Vote Chori” campaign, alleging that the ECI, in collusion with the BJP, is concealing evidence like CCTV footage and voter data to obscure fraud.

In response, the ECI has dismissed Gandhi’s claims as “false and misleading,” urging him to submit a formal declaration under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, or issue a public apology. The ECI defended its voter list revisions, such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, which removed 6.5 million names to eliminate deceased, duplicate, or migrated voters.

However, Gandhi and the INDIA bloc have criticized the Bihar SIR, alleging it disproportionately targeted minority voters to favor the BJP. The ECI maintains that the revision was impartial and necessary, with a deadline of September 1, 2025, for voters to seek corrections.

The Opposition’s campaign has gained traction, with Congress planning a nationwide movement against voter list manipulation, including a meeting of its general secretaries and frontal organization heads on August 11, 2025, to strategize further. Gandhi has called for judicial intervention, warning of “consequences” if the ECI fails to ensure transparency.

The BJP, however, has dismissed the allegations as “pure theatre,” with spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia urging Congress to pursue legal channels rather than public accusations.

The protest, part of the ongoing Parliament Monsoon Session, underscores a deepening political divide over electoral integrity. As India approaches future elections, Gandhi’s demand for transparent voter rolls and the Opposition’s push for accountability continue to challenge the ECI’s credibility, raising critical questions about the fairness of the democratic process.

Also Read: Opposition MPs Stopped During March to Election Commission