SIR a Tool to Rob Poor of Voting Rights, Alleges Rahul in Explosive Charge

New Delhi, August 8: In a strongly worded message posted through a video on his YouTube channel, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged serious concerns about electoral integrity, claiming that the Election Commission of India (EC) is actively colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in what he termed an “institutionalized theft” of votes. The statement follows his earlier press conference in which he presented what he called “concrete evidence” of voter list manipulation from the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Karnataka’s Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat.

Mr. Gandhi described the recently introduced Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a systematic effort aimed at manipulating electoral data, especially in states like Bihar, and alleged that the move was prompted by growing scrutiny and exposure of such practices by the opposition. He voiced particular concern that the rights of economically weaker citizens could be undermined through such revisions.

According to the Congress leader, the party’s internal investigation revealed significant irregularities in one constituency alone, Mahadevapura, where he claimed that over 1,00,250 votes had been manipulated using five different methods. These included duplicate entries, fake or invalid addresses, bulk voter registrations at single addresses, invalid photographs, and suspicious misuse of Form 6, which is meant for first-time voters.

As part of his evidence, Mr. Gandhi highlighted instances of voters registered at multiple booths and cited fictitious addresses such as ‘House Number 0’, and homes allegedly hosting up to 80 registered voters. He also drew attention to elderly individuals being registered multiple times within short intervals, describing this pattern as “clear manipulation.”

“Had the BJP not secured around 10 to 15 questionable seats through these practices, India would have had a different government today,” Gandhi remarked, suggesting that the results of the 2024 general elections were significantly influenced by such irregularities. He added that the issue is not limited to one constituency or state but could be prevalent in over 100 seats nationwide.

In the video, Mr. Gandhi reflected on his personal experiences in electoral campaigns, recalling how as a child he used to help paste posters during elections. He claimed to understand the functioning of polling stations and voter management deeply, having fought elections himself for two decades. Citing past instances, he raised questions about the credibility of results in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, where, according to him, the vote count did not align with public sentiment or campaign turnout.

He stated that the party had repeatedly requested the EC for digital voter lists and CCTV footage to ensure transparency, but such requests were denied, a move he believes further deepened suspicions about electoral malpractice.

Mr. Gandhi emphasized that the Congress Party’s investigation is ongoing and has so far only explored one method of manipulation, that is voter addition. He suggested that the issue of voter deletions may be even more serious and underreported. Addressing EC officials, he said, “What you are doing is wrong. It is a betrayal of the country’s Constitution.”

While warning that the truth will eventually come to light, he urged the public and democratic institutions to demand transparency and accountability. “Vote theft is not just a scam,” he stated in a tweet tagging the video, “it’s a betrayal of our democracy and Constitution.”

Responding to the allegations, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has asked Mr. Gandhi to formally submit names and details of voters he believes were either wrongly included or excluded, along with a signed declaration, so the appropriate verification and legal action, if needed, can be taken.

As political tension around the issue escalates, the coming days may witness further debate and scrutiny, with the Election Commission expected to address these concerns through due process. Meanwhile, Mr. Gandhi’s accusations have added a significant layer of urgency to the larger national conversation about electoral transparency, voter rights, and the future of democratic integrity in India.