The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging him to resign from his Lok Sabha membership if he lacks faith in the Election Commission (EC). The demand comes in response to Gandhi’s recent claims of “vote theft” during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which the BJP labeled as baseless and damaging to democratic institutions.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters, called on Gandhi to step down on “moral grounds” for questioning the EC’s integrity without providing evidence. Bhatia also extended the challenge to Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, asking them to resign from their Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha seats, respectively, if they share Rahul’s doubts about the EC.
“Rahul Gandhi makes unfounded allegations in the media but refuses to submit a written declaration when asked by a constitutional body,” Bhatia said, citing a past Supreme Court ruling that praised the EC’s impartiality and reputation. “If you don’t trust the Election Commission or the Supreme Court’s observations, resign from Lok Sabha. Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi should follow suit.”
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Bhatia further demanded the resignation of Congress-ruled state chief ministers—Siddaramaiah of Karnataka, Revanth Reddy of Telangana, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh—arguing that their party’s leadership undermines the EC’s credibility. “You accept what suits you and reject what doesn’t. This selective narrative won’t work,” he added.
The controversy stems from Gandhi’s remarks at the Vote Adhikar Rally in Bengaluru on August 8, where he alleged irregularities in the 2024 elections and called for a Karnataka government probe into fake voters. Responding to the EC’s demand for an affidavit to substantiate his claims, Gandhi asserted, “I have already taken an oath in Parliament, on the Constitution.”
Bhatia dismissed Gandhi’s claims as “lies” and accused him of being an “anarchic element” intent on undermining India’s Constitution and democracy. He further criticized Gandhi’s leadership, calling him “immature” and alleging he was waging a war against constitutional bodies by threatening EC officials.
The EC has yet to issue a formal response to Gandhi’s rally statements, but political analysts suggest this escalating feud could deepen the divide between the BJP and Congress ahead of upcoming state elections. The BJP’s call for resignations is seen as an attempt to corner the Congress leadership on issues of institutional trust.
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