On Thursday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) strongly reacted to allegations of ‘vote theft’. The poll body stated that attempts to create a ‘false narrative’ against it constitute a ‘direct attack’ on Indian voters and an ‘assault’ on the integrity of election staff.
Reaffirming the law that allows one person to cast only one vote, the ECI demanded a written affidavit with evidence of anyone voting twice in any election.
The ECI’s response followed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s claim that widespread ‘vote theft’ had occurred during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Election Commission stated, “One Person One Vote has been in existence since the first election of India in 1951-1952. If anyone has any proof of any person actually voting twice in any election, it should be shared with ECI with a written affidavit rather than colouring all the electors of India as ‘Chor’ without any proof.”
“Trying to create a false narrative by using dirty phrases like ‘Vote Chori’ for our electors, is not only a direct attack on the crores of Indian electors but also an assault on the integrity of lakhs of election staff, the election body adds,” the ECI added.
Rahul Gandhi had alleged that over 1,00,250 ‘fake votes’, created in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, ensuring a BJP victory.
Protests and Voter Rights Campaign
Earlier in the day, Delhi Youth Congress members protested outside the ECI office, putting up banners reading ‘vote chori commission’.
Rahul Gandhi announced the launch of ‘VoterAdhikarYatra’ against discrepancies in electoral rolls, urging citizens to join the campaign.
Taking to X, he posted, “From August 17, with #VoterAdhikarYatra, we are launching a direct fight against vote theft from the soil of Bihar.”
“This is not just an election issue – it is a decisive battle to protect democracy, the constitution, and the principle of ‘one man, one vote.’ We will ensure a clean voter list across the entire country. Youth, workers, farmers – every citizen, rise and join this people’s movement. This time, the defeat of vote thieves – the victory of the people, the victory of the constitution,” the post added.
17 अगस्त से #VoterAdhikarYatra के साथ हम बिहार की धरती से वोट चोरी के ख़िलाफ़ सीधी लड़ाई छेड़ रहे हैं।
यह सिर्फ़ एक चुनावी मुद्दा नहीं – यह लोकतंत्र, संविधान और ‘वन मैन, वन वोट’ के सिद्धांत की रक्षा का निर्णायक संग्राम है।
हम पूरे देश में स्वच्छ मतदाता सूची बनवाकर ही रहेंगे।… pic.twitter.com/OQl0BQ3ns9
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 14, 2025
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