The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued a sharp rebuke to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, dismissing his allegations of voter data manipulation as a “false narrative” and urging him to provide concrete evidence instead of using terms like “vote chori” (vote theft). The ECI’s statement comes amid escalating tensions with the opposition, particularly after Gandhi’s claims of electoral fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In a strongly worded statement, the ECI defended the sanctity of India’s electoral process, emphasizing that the principle of “one person, one vote” has been upheld since the country’s first elections in 1951-52. “If anyone has proof of any person voting twice, it should be submitted with a written affidavit, rather than labeling all Indian electors as ‘chor’ without evidence,” the ECI declared, accusing Gandhi of undermining the integrity of crores of voters and lakhs of election staff.

Last week, Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged that over one lakh votes were “stolen” through manipulations like duplicate voters and fake addresses in Bengaluru Central’s Mahadevapura constituency, contributing to the defeat of Congress candidate Mansoor Ali Khan. The ECI responded by directing Gandhi to substantiate his claims with a written declaration, warning that such accusations risk eroding public trust in the democratic process.

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The controversy has fueled a broader opposition campaign, with Congress and its INDIA bloc allies protesting the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging it aims to disenfranchise voters ahead of the state’s assembly elections. The ECI, however, maintained that its processes are transparent and urged political leaders to engage constructively rather than resorting to “dirty phrases” that tarnish the reputation of India’s electoral system.

As the debate intensifies, the ECI’s call for evidence places the onus on Gandhi to back his allegations, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation over electoral integrity.

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