BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi over ‘vote chori’ allegations

The political stand-off between the Congress and BJP over alleged irregularities in the electoral process intensified on Tuesday, with BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra challenging Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to explain whether their own electoral victories were secured through “vote chori”.

Addressing the media, Patra questioned whether Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had also become MPs through alleged vote theft and whether Congress governments in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh were formed through the same process.

The BJP accused Gandhi of making baseless allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Patra rejected Gandhi’s claim that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had illegally and unilaterally altered voter registration Form 6.

He also said the Supreme Court had not declared Form 6 illegal and asserted that the ECI’s decision to conduct the SIR in Bihar was unanimous among all three Election Commissioners.

Patra further accused the Congress of attempting to undermine democratic institutions and create public distrust in the ECI and the Supreme Court. He questioned why the party accepts the electoral process when it wins but alleges “vote chori” when it loses.

His remarks came a day after Gandhi alleged that the CEC and others involved in what he called a “criminal assault on democracy” would be held accountable following the Supreme Court’s observations on Form 6.

Patra also questioned the Opposition’s proposed rally against alleged electoral irregularities, accusing the Congress of spreading “misconceptions and fake news” over the SIR process and attempting to create an atmosphere of “anarchy”.