By Ananya Sharma 
New Delhi, August 10: The political fight over alleged voter fraud in Karnataka and Haryana has reached a boiling point, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Election Commission of India trading sharp words in public. What began as a blunt accusation of “vote chori” has now spiraled into a formal notice, a demand for evidence under electoral law, and a counter-charge from the BJP accusing the opposition of peddling falsehoods.
Rahul Gandhi’s Explosive Allegations
In a series of statements this week, Rahul Gandhi accused the poll body of colluding with the BJP to manipulate recent state elections. His sharpest charge focused on Karnataka’s Mahadevapura constituency, where he alleged that over one lakh votes were stolen through fake and duplicate entries. Gandhi also named a voter, Shakun Rani, claiming she had voted twice.
Speaking to reporters, he framed the allegations as part of a broader pattern of democratic erosion, suggesting that targeted voter roll manipulation was skewing results in BJP strongholds. “This is not a clerical error,” he said, calling it “a deliberate theft of democracy.”
Election Commission’s Pushback
The Election Commission (EC), in a strongly worded statement, rejected the charges as “distorted and baseless”. The poll body has now issued formal notices to Rahul Gandhi, directing him to either:
- Submit a signed declaration with documentary evidence supporting his claims, or
- Publicly apologise for making false allegations.
As reported by News On Air, the EC has also tasked the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer and the Haryana CEO with seeking all relevant documents from Gandhi, including proof of the Shakun Rani claim.
Officials said their inquiries found no evidence that Shakun Rani had voted twice. In fact, according to ABP Live, she has denied the allegation outright.
Congress Escalates Campaign
Rather than step back, the Congress party has doubled down. It launched a dedicated web page to mobilise citizens for “clean voter rolls” and greater election transparency. Party leaders say this is part of a long-term push to expose what they describe as systemic flaws in India’s electoral process.
The INDIA bloc the opposition alliance led by Congress is also planning protests against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, which they claim could be used to manipulate future elections.
BJP Hits Back
BJP leaders have been quick to dismiss Gandhi’s allegations as politically motivated. Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, as quoted by Amar Ujala, described the claims as “totally false” and questioned why Gandhi only highlighted irregularities in BJP-leaning constituencies while ignoring Congress victories.
In a pointed counter, BJP figures have even hinted that the opposition alliance could be working with “foreign entities” to undermine Indian democracy a charge Congress leaders have not directly addressed.
A Clash Beyond Election Numbers
What makes this controversy particularly charged is that it strikes at the heart of public trust in electoral integrity. India’s poll body has historically guarded its neutrality fiercely, and rare are the occasions when it openly demands an apology from a senior opposition leader.
That said, the political stakes are clear. For Congress, this is a narrative of a ruling party rigging the rules. For the BJP, it is an example of the opposition undermining institutions when it loses.
Chronological Timeline of Events
August 6-7, 2025 – Rahul Gandhi makes public allegations of large-scale voter fraud in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura, citing over one lakh fake and duplicate entries. He also claims voter Shakun Rani voted twice.
August 8, 2025 – The Election Commission issues a fact-check, dismissing the claims as baseless. Karnataka and Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officers are instructed to issue notices to Gandhi seeking proof.
August 9, 2025 – Shakun Rani, through officials, denies voting twice. No documentary evidence emerges to support Gandhi’s claims.
August 10, 2025 – The EC escalates by demanding either a signed declaration with evidence or a public apology. Congress launches a public mobilisation webpage. BJP leaders hold press briefings dismissing the allegations and attacking Gandhi’s credibility.
For now, the standoff remains unresolved. Rahul Gandhi has not indicated whether he will comply with the EC’s notice or face possible legal consequences under electoral law. With both parties digging in, the issue looks set to dominate political headlines well beyond this week.
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- Ananya Sharmahttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/ananya/
- Ananya Sharmahttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/ananya/
- Ananya Sharmahttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/ananya/
Kavita Iyer and Ananya Sharma