Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 24: In a fiery statement outside Parliament on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of enabling voter fraud, warning that its officials would be held accountable. Calling it a “serious issue,” Gandhi said, “If you think you're going to get away with this, you're mistaken — we are going to come for you.”
His remarks come amid allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and claims of fraudulent voter additions in Karnataka. Gandhi alleged that he and his party had uncovered “100 per cent cheating” in one Karnataka constituency, where voters aged 45, 50, and 60 were allegedly added in violation of norms.
“We now have irrefutable proof of voter deletion and addition with the ECI’s knowledge,” Gandhi said, hinting at the possibility of boycotting the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections if the commission fails to act.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission issued a statement defending the SIR process, which Gandhi dismissed as “complete nonsense.”
Responding sharply, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav of preparing excuses in anticipation of electoral defeat. Malviya said the INDIA bloc's criticism of the SIR process was nothing more than “sour grapes,” pointing out that over 98% of voter revision work has been completed with enthusiastic public participation.
“This proves that the people of Bihar have rejected Tejashwi’s campaign. His talk of boycotting elections shows he knows he’s losing,” Malviya said on social media platform X.
He added that Tejashwi and Rahul Gandhi were “hyping a non-issue” and trying to discredit a democratic exercise that had widespread public support. “These failed sons of Lalu, fearing the electoral test, are now looking for a way to boycott,” he said.
With Bihar Assembly elections just months away, the war of words has intensified, turning the SIR process into a major flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc. While the ECI has yet to formally respond to Rahul Gandhi’s direct accusations, the issue has added fuel to an already volatile pre-election atmosphere.