New Delhi, Nov 5: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday strongly rebuffed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “mass vote theft” in the Haryana Assembly elections, calling them “baseless, fabricated, and aimed at maligning India’s democratic institutions.” The party accused Gandhi of repeatedly questioning the credibility of the Election Commission and undermining the integrity of the electoral process to cover up his own political shortcomings.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju dismissed Gandhi’s claims as “a desperate attempt to defame the country internationally.” He said the Congress leader’s repeated attacks on the Election Commission were irresponsible and intended to create doubt among citizens about India’s free and fair electoral system. “Rahul Gandhi is playing games with democracy, often in partnership with anti-India forces, just to hide his failures and to vilify the country’s image before the world,” Rijiju stated firmly.
The minister’s remarks came hours after Gandhi, while addressing a public gathering, alleged that around 25 lakh “fake” entries were found in Haryana’s voter lists, suggesting that the Congress party’s victory in the 2024 Assembly elections was “stolen.” Gandhi claimed to possess “100 per cent proof” of the alleged manipulation and accused the Election Commission of failing to maintain transparency.
Countering the allegations, Rijiju said, “If Mr. Gandhi has any evidence, he should present it before the Election Commission or the court. But instead of following due process, he prefers making wild claims in public to mislead people.” The minister questioned Gandhi’s political seriousness, accusing him of being disconnected from the electorate. “He goes abroad during elections, avoids meeting voters, and after losing, blames institutions. This pattern has become his signature style of politics,” Rijiju added.
He further said that Gandhi’s remarks not only insulted the Election Commission but also the millions of polling officers, security personnel, and citizens who contribute to India’s electoral process. “Our democracy is one of the strongest in the world, and it functions on transparency and participation. To allege large-scale rigging without proof is to question the very foundation of the Republic,” Rijiju asserted.
The BJP maintained that the Congress party’s repeated electoral failures stem from its disconnect with ground realities, not from manipulation or conspiracy. Rijiju added that Gandhi’s statements often provide ammunition to those seeking to discredit India’s democratic institutions abroad. “Every time the Congress loses, he blames the EVMs, the Election Commission, or even the people. This victim narrative has lost all credibility. Instead of introspection, he chooses sensationalism,” the minister said.