{{pp-semi|small=yes}} {{Short description|none}} {{Infobox event | title = 2025 Indian electoral controversy | partof = Democratic backsliding in India | date = August 2025 – present | also known as = ''Vote chori'' | type = Politics of India | cause = Alleged irregularities by the Election Commission of India | motive = Alleged rigging of the 2024 Indian general election and state assembly elections | perpetrator = {{bulleted list |Election Commission of India (alleged) |Bharatiya Janata Party (alleged) }}}} On 1 August 2025, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, stated that his party, the Indian National Congress (INC), had found evidence of electoral fraud during the 2024 Indian general election. On 7 August, he alleged that the electoral rolls prepared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka consisted of various discrepancies, and accused the commission of "''vote chori''" (vote theft) and indulging in systematic fraud, in collusion with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The ECI dismissed the claims and urged him to submit them through a signed declaration. On 17 August, Gyanesh Kumar, the chief election commissioner, added that the allegations must be filed under oath within seven days, failing which they would be deemed “baseless and invalid," citing Rule 20(3)(B) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and no such affidavit was ever filed by Rahul Gandhi or Indian National Congress.<ref>{{Cite web|title=‘Taken Constitution’s oath': Rahul Gandhi responds as spat with Election Commission over ‘vote theft’ intensifies|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/taken-oath-of-constitution-rahul-gandhi-responds-to-election-commission-after-vote-theft-claim-101754638377165.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=2025-08-08|access-date=2025-12-01|language=en}}</ref>
Since then, the opposition parties led by the INC have organised protests and social media campaigns over the ECI's revision of Bihar's electoral rolls. In reaction to the allegation, several members and affiliates of the BJP have defended the commission, while counter accusing the opposition parties of having indulged in electoral fraud themselves.
== Background == === Democratic backsliding under BJP rule since 2014 === {{Main|Premiership of Narendra Modi#Democratic backsliding}} {{Further information|Democracy in India#Democratic backsliding|Democratic backsliding in Asia by country#India}} {{See also|Godi media|Fake news in India}}
Since the victory of Narendra Modi, leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the 2014 Indian general election, India has witnessed significant democratic backsliding.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brunkert|first1=Lennart|last2=Kruse|first2=Stefan|last3=Welzel|first3=Christian|date=3 April 2019|title=A tale of culture-bound regime evolution: the centennial democratic trend and its recent reversal|url=http://fox.leuphana.de/portal/de/publications/a-tale-of-culturebound-regime-evolution-the-centennial-democratic-trend-and-its-recent-reversal(2b6baaf4-3942-4491-92ca-55782d455a62).html|journal=Democratization|volume=26|issue=3|pages=422–443|doi=10.1080/13510347.2018.1542430|s2cid=148625260|issn=1351-0347|access-date=4 January 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010183922/http://fox.leuphana.de/portal/de/publications/a-tale-of-culturebound-regime-evolution-the-centennial-democratic-trend-and-its-recent-reversal(2b6baaf4-3942-4491-92ca-55782d455a62).html|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Khaitan|first=Tarunabh|date=26 May 2020|title=Killing a Constitution with a Thousand Cuts: Executive Aggrandizement and Party-state Fusion in India|journal=Law & Ethics of Human Rights|language=en|volume=14|issue=1|pages=49–95|doi=10.1515/lehr-2020-2009|s2cid=221083830|issn=2194-6531|doi-access=free|hdl=11343/241852|hdl-access=free}}</ref>
Laws on sedition, defamation, and counterterrorism have been regularly employed to crack down on critics and dissenting voices, including the detention and arrest of opposition leaders.<ref>Pillai, Shreeya and Lindberg, Staffan I. (2021) "Democracy Broken Down: India" in ''Democracy Report 2021: Autocratization Turns Viral'' pp.20–21. V-Dem Institute</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 September 2023 |title=The Modi decade and how it changed India: India's endangered democracy and freedom |url=https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/modi-decade-and-how-it-changed-india-indias-endangered-democracy-and-declining-press-0 |website=SOAS University of London}}</ref> The government has moved to further stifle critics in academia and the press, leading to the rise of an increasingly right-wing and pro-government mainstream media.<ref>{{cite web|work=V-Dem Institute|url=https://www.v-dem.net/en/news/democratic-backsliding-india-worlds-largest-democracy/|date=24 February 2020|title=Democratic Backsliding in India, the World's Largest Democracy|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227182459/https://www.v-dem.net/en/news/democratic-backsliding-india-worlds-largest-democracy/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ismat |first=Ara |date=9 December 2020 |title=At Farmers' Protest, Field Reporters of 'Godi Media' Channels Face the Heat |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/rights/farmers-protest-godi-media-channels-ground-reporters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127084958/https://m.thewire.in/article/rights/farmers-protest-godi-media-channels-ground-reporters |archive-date=27 November 2022 |website=The Wire}}</ref> The country's referee institutions, such as the judiciary, investigative agencies, the Election Commission of India (ECI), Lokpal, among others have been weakened through coercion, patronage, and ideological alignment with the BJP, leading to an erosion of public trust in institutions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vaishnav |first=Milan |title=Backsliding in India? |date=15 May 2025 |work=Global Challenges to Democracy |pages=35–53 |url=https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009602570.003 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/9781009602570.003 |isbn=978-1-009-60257-0 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Gareth |date=7 April 2022 |title=Democracy in India |url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/04/democracy-india |website=Chatham House}}</ref>
In 2021, the V-Dem Institute downgraded India from 'flawed democracy' to 'electoral autocracy'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biswas |first=Soutik |date=16 March 2021 |title='Electoral autocracy': The downgrading of India's democracy |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56393944 |website=BBC}}</ref> In 2021, Freedom House downgraded India from "free" to "partly free," a title the country has since held for three consecutive years since.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC|title=India is now only 'partly free', says global report|date=3 March 2021|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56249596|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303201849/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56249596|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Krishnankutty |first1=Pia |title=Freedom 'losing ground' — India ranked 'partly free' for 3rd year by US non-profit Freedom House |url=https://theprint.in/india/freedom-losing-ground-india-ranked-partly-free-for-3rd-year-by-us-non-profit-freedom-house/1440560/?amp |work=ThePrint |date=13 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=India rated 'partially free' in Freedom House report for third straight year |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1045410/india-rated-partially-free-for-third-straight-year-in-freedom-house-report |work=Scroll.in |date=11 March 2023}}</ref>
=== Change in the appointment process of election commissioners === Election commissioners are members of the ECI, appointed by the president of India on the recommendation of a three-member panel, named the ''Selection Committee'', through a majority vote. Prior to 2023, the committee consisted of the prime minister of India, the chief justice of India, and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. However, the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act of 2023 controversially replaced the chief justice with a union minister, thereby giving the ruling government a dominant role in the appointment of election commissioners.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 February 2025 |title=Supreme Court puts off hearing pleas challenging law on CEC appointment |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-postpones-hearing-of-pleas-challenging-cec-appointment-law/article69237757.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219101449/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-postpones-hearing-of-pleas-challenging-cec-appointment-law/article69237757.ece |archive-date=19 February 2025 |website=The Hindu}}</ref>
=== Past allegation of electoral fraud === Earlier, the opposition Indian National Congress (INC; commonly known simply as "the Congress") had accused the ECI of collusion with the ruling BJP, and of rigging the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news |last=Malpani |first=Mehul |date=21 July 2025 |title='Madhya Pradesh elections could be stolen, just as in Maharashtra': Rahul Gandhi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/madhya-pradesh/madhya-pradesh-elections-could-be-stolen-just-as-in-maharashtra-rahul-gandhi/article69839430.ece |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== Allegation ==
On 1 August 2025, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, alleged electoral fraud during the 2024 Indian general election. He referred to the evidence as an "atom bomb" and stated that the ruling party will have "no place to hide."<ref>{{cite news |date=1 August 2025 |title=Rahul Gandhi says what we have found is an 'atom bomb'; there's 100% proof EC is doing 'vote chori' for BJP |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-we-have-found-is-an-atom-bomb-theres-100-proof-ec-doing-vote-chori-for-bjp-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi/article69882114.ece |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=11 August 2025 |title=Hundreds of Indian Lawmakers Detained at a Protest Claiming Vote Rigging |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/world/asia/india-election-arrests-modi.html |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=India police detain Rahul Gandhi, other opposition leaders during protest over electoral roll |url=https://trt.global/world/article/d2ba220c0b5a |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=TRT global }}</ref> On 6 August, the opposition demanded a discussion on the special exercise carried out by the ECI for the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Arjun Ram Meghwal, the law minister, asked Rahul Gandhi to present the evidences regarding the fraud and stated that the functioning of the election commission cannot be debated in parliament, citing a previous precedence by Lok Sabha speaker Balram Jakhar.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 August 2025 |title=Opposition pulls out former Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar's remarks to counter government over SIR debate |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/bihar-assembly/oppositions-demand-for-discussion-on-votebandi-non-negotiable-congress/article69900089.ece |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
On 7 August, Rahul Gandhi, in a meeting of the press, alleged that the election commission added fraudulent voters to the electoral roll in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka, and accused the commission of rigging the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress lost the election to the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, of which the assembly segment was part of, by 114,000 votes despite leading in the remaining six assembly segments of the constituency.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 August 2025 |title=Fix the flaws: On Rahul Gandhi's 'stolen elections' allegation and the Election Commission of India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/fix-the-flaws-on-rahul-gandhis-stolen-elections-allegation-and-the-election-commission-of-india/article69910219.ece |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He stated that the evidences were a result of a six month long research conducted by the party, and challenged the election commission to publish an electronic voter list and CCTV footage to debunk his claims.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 August 2025 |title=Cong alleges over 1 lakh fake voters in a K'taka seat; ECI seeks declaration |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cong-alleges-over-1-lakh-fake-voters-in-a-ktaka-seat-eci-seeks-declaration/articleshow/123173390.cms?from=mdr |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |last=Vyas |first=Neelu |date=7 August 2025 |title=Is Rahul right in accusing the EC of helping BJP steal elections? |url=https://thefederal.com/category/news/rahul-gandhi-ec-vote-fraud-expose-election-fake-200669 |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=The Federal}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |last=Poovanna |first=Sharan |date=9 August 2025 |title=Rahul's '80 voters in one home' charge—what ThePrint found at House no. 35 in Mahadevapura |url=https://theprint.in/politics/rahuls-80-voters-in-one-home-charge-what-theprint-found-at-house-no-35-in-mahadevapura/2717544/ |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=The Print}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |date=7 August 2025|title='Father's name dfojgaidf; house no. 0': Inside Rahul Gandhi's 'atom bomb proof' of vote rigging in Karnataka |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Aug/07/fathers-name-dfojgaidf-house-no-0-inside-rahul-gandhis-atom-bomb-proof-of-vote-rigging-in-karnataka |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=The New Indian Express }}</ref>
On 5 November, 2025 Rahul Gandhi alleged vote fraud in the 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election. He claimed theft of over 25 lakh votes in Haryana.<ref name="z077">{{cite web | last1=Jain | first1=Aishvarya | last2=Singh | first2=Ashwine Kumar | last3=Mishra | first3=Himanshu Shekhar | last4=Bose | first4=Saikat Kumar | title="Brazilian Model Voted 22 Times": Rahul Gandhi's Hydrogen Bomb, BJP Counters | website=www.ndtv.com | date=2025-11-05 | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-hydrogen-bomb-live-updates-haryana-elections-brazilian-model-voted-as-seema-sweety-saraswati-rahul-gandhis-h-bomb-is-haryana-9578686 | access-date=2025-11-07}}</ref> He presented evidence including repeated use of the same photographic images in voter rolls and cited the case of a Brazilian model's image, which appeared on multiple voter IDs across Haryana.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-11-06 |title=Brazilian photographer deletes Instagram account amid India ‘vote chori’ row: How a photo put Matheus Ferrero in fix {{!}} Today News |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/brazilian-photographer-deletes-instagram-account-amid-india-vote-chori-row-how-a-photo-put-matheus-ferrero-in-fix-11762420429069.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-11-05 |title=On eve of Bihar polls, Rahul Gandhi drops 'H files', alleges theft of over 25 lakh votes in Haryana elections |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Nov/05/on-eve-of-bihar-polls-rahul-gandhi-drops-h-files-alleges-theft-of-over-25-lakh-votes-in-haryana-elections |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-11-05 |title=BJP's 2024 Haryana win focus of Rahul's latest 'vote chori' salvo. At centre of it all, a Brazilian model |url=https://theprint.in/politics/bjps-2024-haryana-win-focus-of-rahuls-latest-vote-chori-salvo-at-centre-of-it-all-a-brazilian-model/2777820/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Response from the ECI == The election commission dismissed the allegations as "baseless," and reverted that the Congress did not file any appeal or concern regarding the electoral rolls prior to the elections. It urged Rahul Gandhi to submit a written declaration with the allegations as per the rule 20(3)(B) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.<ref name="EP">{{cite news |date=8 August 2025 |title='Sign declaration or apologise': EC shreds Rahul Gandhi's '5 questions' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sign-declaration-or-apologise-ec-shreds-rahul-gandhis-5-questions-congress-bengaluru-rally-101754660845133.html |access-date=12 August 2025 |work=The Hindustan Times}}</ref> The commission also reverted to the allegation of a particular voter Shakuni Rani voting twice, and said that a preliminary enquiry conducted by the office confirmed that she only voted once.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 August 2025 |title=Poll Body Fact-Checks Yet Another Voter Fraud Claim By Rahul Gandhi |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/poll-body-fact-checks-yet-another-voter-fraud-claim-by-rahul-gandhi-9057177 |work=NDTV |access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref> It further stated that the request for a machine readable voter list was rejected by the Supreme Court in 2019, and that reviewing the CCTV footage for the 100,000 voting booths is "implausible," claiming that the footage is retained only if any losing candidate files an election petition to challenge the election in the concerned High Court within 45 days of the election.<ref name="EP"/>
The chief electoral officers of Maharashtra and Haryana issued notices to Rahul Gandhi for submitting a formal declaration under 10 days for his alleged accusation of inclusion and exclusion of non-eligible and eligible voters by the election commission in the respective states.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 August 2025 |title=CEOs of Maharashtra, Haryana issue fresh letter to Rahul Gandhi, give him 10 days to prove 'voter fraud' claims |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ceos-of-maharashtra-haryana-issue-fresh-letter-to-rahul-gandhi-give-him-10-days-to-prove-voter-fraud-claims/articleshow/123228040.cms |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> On 17 August, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar responded to the claims of Rahul Gandhi stating that if the claims are not made under a declaration under oath within seven days, it would be considered as "baseless and invalid." He further stated that if Rahul Gandhi is not willing to submit a signed affidavit, he should then "apologise for his allegations."<ref>{{cite news |date=17 August 2025 |title=Submit affidavit or apologise to the nation: CEC Gyanesh Kumar to Rahul Gandhi over his 'voter theft' allegations |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/submit-affidavit-or-apologise-to-the-nation-cec-gyanesh-kumar-to-rahul-gandhi-over-his-voter-theft-allegations/articleshow/123345589.cms?from=mdr |access-date=18 August 2025 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>
== Protests and reactions == {{Overly detailed|section|date=December 2025}} On 11 August, about 200 lawmakers and their supporters held a protest against the special intensive revision exercise of the electoral rolls carried out in Bihar.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nair |first=Sobhana K. |date=11 August 2025 |title=Opposition protests against SIR, calls it 'vote theft' by government |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/opposition-mps-protest-march-from-parliament-house-to-eci-headquarters-bihar-sir-vote-chori-on-august-11-2025/article69919118.ece |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> They marched to the office of the election commission office in New Delhi, and claimed that it is a government conspiracy for "vote theft" which will lead to disenfranchisement.<ref>{{cite news|title='Vote theft': India's opposition protests against electoral roll revision |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/11/indias-opposition-march-against-controversial-electoral-roll-revision |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=Al Jazeera |date=11 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=13 August 2025 |title=Explained: Why is the opposition protesting against India's election commission? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l6kg80de5o |access-date=13 August 2025|work=BBC News}}</ref> The Delhi Police detained multiple protesters including Rahul Gandhi.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 August 2025 |title=Rahul Gandhi among opposition leaders detained during protest against India election panel |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/rahul-gandhi-among-opposition-leaders-detained-during-protest-against-india-2025-08-11/ |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Protests were also held by the opposition in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengal Congress activists hold protest outside Raj Bhavan |url=https://www.ptinews.com/editor-detail/bengal-congress-activists-hold-protests-outside-raj-bhavan-over-sir/2815114 |date=14 August 2025| access-date=14 August 2025 |work=Press Trust of India}}</ref> Bharat Rashtra Samithi chairman K. T. Rama Rao accused the Congress of vote theft in the 2023 Telangana state elections.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 August 2025|title=KTR takes dig at Rahul Gandhi over 'Vote Chori' allegations |url=https://telanganatoday.com/ktr-takes-dig-at-rahul-gandhi-over-vote-chori-allegations |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=Telangana Today }}</ref> Karnataka state minister K. N. Rajanna of the Congress condemned Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the election commission. He was removed from the cabinet for his remarks against his party leader, which sparked protests by his followers in Tumakuru district.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 August 2025 |title=Karnataka 'vote chori' row: Thousands protest KN Rajanna's removal from cabinet; supporter attempts self-immolation amid party dissent |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-vote-chori-row-thousands-protest-kn-rajannas-removal-from-cabinate-supporter-attempts-self-immolation-amid-party-dissent/articleshow/123253451.cms |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Protests Erupt in Tumakuru Over Minister K N Rajanna's Removal from Cabinet |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/supporters-hit-streets-over-karnataka-minister-rajannas-unceremonious-removal-3678169 |access-date=14 August 2025|date=14 August 2025 |work=Deccan Herald }}</ref>
On 12 August, members of parliament from the Congress and other opposition parties protested the alleged electoral fraud by wearing t-shirts which bore the face of Minta Devi, a 124-year-old woman from the Daraunda Assembly constituency.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 August 2025 |title=Bihar SIR row protest: Congress MPs wear '124 not out' T-shirts over voter fraud allegations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-mps-novel-protest-against-bihar-sir-features-indias-oldest-voter/article69923020.ece |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In response, union minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the protesters for allegedly "mocking" Minta Devi and claiming her to be 124 years of age.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 August 2025 |title=Will Congress apologise, BJP smirks as Bihar's Minta Devi hits out at Gandhis |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/will-congress-apologise-kiren-rijiju-after-minta-devi-fumes-at-tshirt-protest-2770530-2025-08-13 |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=India Today }}</ref> Minta Devi, who was reportedly 35 years old, condemned the use of her picture in the protest without her permission.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 August 2025 |title='Who gave Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi the right?': Minta Devi slams use of her name, photo in voter chori protest by India bloc |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/who-gave-priyanka-rahul-gandhi-the-right-minta-devi-slams-use-of-her-name-photo-in-voter-chori-protest-by-india-bloc/articleshow/123263164.cms?from=mdr |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> The district administration later stated that a clerical error was responsible for the incorrect age.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/minta-devi-124-not-out-error-in-bihar-womans-age-on-voters-list-gives-ammo-to-opposition-she-says-gave-correct-details-10185576/|title=Minta Devi, 124 not out’ – error in Bihar woman’s age on voter list gives ammo to Opposition; she says gave correct detail|date=13 August 2025|access-date=14 August 2025|work=The Indian Express|quote=The district administration claimed the discrepancy was a clerical error during the online application process...}}</ref>
Anurag Thakur of the BJP called the allegations as an excuse for the defeat of congress in the elections and as a political agenda on the backdrop of the upcoming elections in Bihar. On 13 August, the BJP counter accused the opposition parties of electoral irregularities in various parliamentary seats such as Rae Bareli, Wayanad, Diamond Harbour, and Kannauj and demanded resignation of the respective opposition members Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Abhishek Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav representing those constituencies respectively. At a presentation held at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, the party alleged irregularities during the elections for the Kolathur assembly seat in Tamil Nadu represented by Tamil Nadu chief minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M. K. Stalin and in the Mainpuri parliamentary seat in Uttar Pradesh represented by Samajwadi party leader Dimple Yadav. It further accused the opposition leaders for rigging elections, and blamed the opposition of protecting their "vote bank" of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 August 2025 |title='Chor machaye shor': BJP alleges irregularities in voter registration in seats of Oppn leaders |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Aug/13/chor-machaye-shor-bjp-alleges-irregularities-in-voter-registration-in-seats-of-oppn-leaders |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=13 August 2025 |title="Rahul Gandhi Wants To Save His 'Ghuspaithiye' Voters": BJP Flips The Debate On SIR |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/rahul-gandhi-wants-to-save-his-ghuspaithiye-voters-bjp-anurag-thakur-flips-the-debate-on-sir-article-152457417 |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=Times Now}}</ref>
On 13 August, Rahul Gandhi reportedly met with seven voters of Bihar whose names were allegedly removed from the electoral rolls declaring them as dead.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 August 2025 |title=Rahul Gandhi has tea with 'dead' voters from Bihar, thanks ECI for experience |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/bihar-assembly/rahul-gandhi-has-tea-with-dead-voters-from-bihar-thanks-eci-for-experience/article69929098.ece |access-date=13 August 2025 |work=The Hindu|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 14 August, he further declared that the opposition will set out a protest in all 30 districts of Bihar in three phases, beginning from 17 August, which was later postponed by a week.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tewary |first=Amarnath |date=4 August 2025 |title=Rahul Gandhi to begin yatra covering 30 districts in Bihar from August 17 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar/rahul-gandhi-to-set-off-yatra-in-bihar-from-august-10/article69892701.ece |access-date=14 August 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 15 August, Congress launched "Vote chori se azaadi" campaign on their social media handles, and requested people to change their display pictures to support their protest against the election commission.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 August 2025|title=Congress launches 'Vote Chori se Azaadi' campaign; urges for support by displaying picture |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-launches-vote-chori-se-azaadi-campaign-urges-for-support-by-displaying-picture-101755276448401.html |access-date=17 August 2025 |work=The Hindustan Times}}</ref> On 18 August, it was reported in the media that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance was contemplating about moving an impeachment motion against the chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nair |first=Sobhana K. |date=18 August 2025 |title=INDIA bloc considering motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-bloc-considering-motion-to-remove-chief-election-commissioner-gyanesh-kumar-august-18-2025/article69946271.ece |access-date=18 August 2025| work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== See also == * 2024 Indian general election * Mahadevapura Assembly constituency * Elections in Karnataka *Special Intensive Revision (SIR) * 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Elections in India Category:Bharatiya Janata Party Category:Elections in Karnataka Category:Elections in Bihar Category:Indian National Congress Category:Election Commission of India Category:Government of India Category:Rahul Gandhi Category:2025 in Indian politics Category:Modi administration Category:Protests against Narendra Modi Category:Democratic backsliding in India Category:2025 in Indian law Category:Politics of Bengaluru Category:Voter suppression Category:Scandals in India Category:Fraud in India Category:Political controversies in India Category:Political scandals in India Category:Electoral fraud in India Category:Electoral fraud