Vote Theft Allegations Shake Indian Democracy

Tue Oct 21 2025 04:06:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Opposition parties raise alarms over electoral irregularities, as tensions rise following the 2024 elections.

A political storm has erupted in India after opposition parties accused the Election Commission of facilitating "vote theft" in favor of the ruling party during the 2024 elections. Rahul Gandhi claims to have evidence of voter manipulation affecting results.

In a dramatic turn of events, Indian politics is in turmoil as opposition parties lash out against alleged "vote theft" during the country's 2024 elections. Accusations point towards the Election Commission of India (ECI), which critics claim distorted the electoral process to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Tensions soared this week as opposition MPs protested in parliament, demanding discussions on the credibility of the electoral system. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, was among dozens briefly detained while trying to approach the ECI head office in Delhi. Gandhi initially raised concerns about electoral integrity in a press conference earlier this month, rallying support from fellow lawmakers across the political spectrum.

Gandhi's claims include alarming data indicating that over 100,000 voter entries in a Bengaluru constituency were manipulated—featuring duplicates and invalid addresses. He argues that these discrepancies led to significant electoral losses for his party, with Congress securing only 99 of 543 seats.

While the ECI and BJP officials firmly rebut these allegations, they argue that proper procedures were in place. Tensions have heightened further with a controversial revision of voter lists in Bihar, further fueling fears of disenfranchisement. With elections looming, the debate around electoral integrity is more critical than ever, and both sides appear poised for a fierce showdown.