Rahul Gandhi now vows to expose poll theft by BJP, EC

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) was “hiding a big crime” by refusing to share electronic voter lists and polling booth videos, claiming this was done to shield the BJP’s alleged theft of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka and other states.

Speaking at a rally in Bengaluru, he claimed that the 2024 polls were marked by large-scale voter list manipulation and violations of the “one man, one vote” principle enshrined in the Constitution.

Rahul said the Congress’s internal survey before the Lok Sabha polls projected the party ahead in at least 16 seats in Karnataka, but it won only nine. “That day, we decided something was wrong with the elections,” he said, adding that requests to the EC for electronic voter lists and video recordings from polling booths were repeatedly denied. He alleged that the law was later changed to mandate the erasure of videos after 45 days.

Presenting his party’s findings from a six-month investigation into Mahadevapura Assembly constituency under the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat, Rahul claimed there was “100 percent proof” of voter fraud.

“The EC and BJP together have stolen the Lok Sabha from Karnataka,” he said, accusing the poll body of closing state voter list websites in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar to prevent public scrutiny. Rahul demanded the release of electronic voter lists and polling day videography records for the entire country for the past 10 years, asserting that if made public, they would prove “the Prime Minister of India became PM by stealing votes.”

Calling the alleged fraud a “criminal act against the people of Karnataka,” Rahul urged the state government to investigate and hold officials accountable for adding fake names to the rolls. He warned EC officers that they “cannot hide” and would have to answer to the Opposition.

Rahul strongly criticised the BJP mindset, saying it was “against the Constitution” and was using these tactics as a weapon to attack the poor, small traders, and common people. He asserted that every Congress worker would stand to protect the Constitution and the democratic rights of citizens.

“Time lagega, magar hum aapko pakdenge (It will take time, but we will catch you),” he said, adding, “If you attack the Constitution, we will attack you. This is the nation’s voice.”