In a sharp counter-attack, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent claims that the Election Commission (EC) “colluded with the BJP to steal elections.” The BJP’s national spokesperson, Sambit Patra, addressed a press conference on Thursday, accusing Gandhi and the Congress of “selective outrage.”
Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the Lok Sabha seat of Bangalore Central, which the Congress lost by a narrow margin, had instances of “fake voters” and “duplicate voting.” He cited an analysis of electoral data from a Karnataka constituency as proof of what he termed a “crime against the Constitution.”
However, Sambit Patra questioned the timing and motivation behind these allegations. He highlighted that when the Congress wins elections, as they did in Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, the party remains silent on the EC’s conduct. “When you win in Himachal Pradesh, you don’t say the Election Commission did a good job. At that time, you don’t claim there was any fraud,” Patra said. He further challenged Gandhi to show a single press conference where he alleged fraud by the EC in a state where the Congress emerged victorious.
Patra also pointed to the Congress party’s celebrations over their 99-seat performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He argued that if Rahul Gandhi’s claims of a compromised EC were true, then such a celebration would be a contradiction. “How is that possible if, as you say, democracy has failed and the Election Commission is compromised? If that were true, what exactly are you celebrating?” he asked, stating that this behavior clearly demonstrates a pattern of selective criticism.
The Election Commission has also responded to Gandhi’s allegations. The Chief Electoral Officers of both Karnataka and Maharashtra have written to Rahul Gandhi, asking him to provide the specific details of the alleged fraudulent voters under oath. The EC has requested that he submit the names of the excluded and ineligible voters with a signed declaration, emphasizing that the results can only be legally challenged through an election petition in the High Court.