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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has delivered a sharp ultimatum to Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, demanding a response to his allegations of widespread electoral irregularities ("vote chori") in Bihar. The controversy erupted during the launch of Gandhis 1300-kilometre Voter Adhikar Yatra (Voter Rights Journey), a campaign focusing on alleged manipulation in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Gandhis concerns primarily centre on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, suggesting the process was susceptible to fraudulent practices.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar responded forcefully, issuing a seven-day deadline for Gandhi to either provide an affidavit containing verifiable evidence to support his claims or issue a public apology. Kumar stated that the allegations were a serious affront to the integrity of the Indian electoral system and a direct insult to the Constitution. He emphasised that the ECI takes all allegations of electoral malpractice extremely seriously and investigates them thoroughly.
The ECIs statement aimed to counter the narrative propagated by Gandhi’s yatra. Kumar clarified several points, including the registration of over 7 crore voters during the SIR, the involvement of political parties in the verification process, and the rigorous measures undertaken to identify and remove ineligible voters, particularly non-citizens, from the electoral rolls.
