Aug 13, 2025
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ allegations have triggered a huge political row with many questioning the integrity of the Election Commission of India. Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa says that the commission was wrong in asking Gandhi to file an affidavit.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of manipulating the electoral process by adding fake voters to the rolls during the April–June 2024 Lok Sabha polls, which were held in seven phases. The poll body had last week asked Gandhi, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to either sign a formal declaration supporting his “vote chori” (vote theft) allegations or apologise to the country, describing his claims as “false” and “absurd”.
In the 2024 national election, the BJP won 240 seats – 63 fewer than its 2019 tally – while the Congress nearly doubled its seat counts – from 52 to 99.
The BJP too strongly denied all allegations and challenged Gandhi to prove his claims.
In an interview with TOI+, former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa said Gandhi’s analysis deserves a detailed, point-by-point response from the poll body. He also emphasised that the ECI must take action against those found responsible for any irregularities.
Edited excerpts:
Q: Rahul Gandhi alleged at a press conference on August 7 that 1,00,250 ‘fake votes’ were created in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura assembly constituency under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat. How do you view this allegation?
The analysis presented by Rahul Gandhi needs a point-by-point response from the CEO/DEO/ERO [chief electoral officer/district election officer/electoral registration officer] as nobody can rule out the possibility of discrepancies in electoral rolls.
The ECI has been conscious about such oddities in the rolls and has reaffirmed its commitment to clean up the rolls from time to time. As electoral rolls are prepared under the supervision of the ECI, the detailed response in the matter should carry the endorsement of the ECI.
ECI is a constitutional body entrusted with the preparation of electoral rolls under Article 324. Isn’t it duty-bound to probe the allegations levelled by Gandhi?
ECI should take the analysis seriously and immediately investigate the allegations to ascertain the veracity of the contention made by Rahul Gandhi. It should act against those responsible for the discrepancies/aberrations/irregularities in the instances specifically pointed out in the allegations.
Further, ECI should take systemic steps to ensure that such things do not get repeated. In fact, errors on account of deficiencies or drawbacks in the system, if any, found by the ECI should be identified for drawing lessons for the future and other rolls, when revised, should be screened for such possible errors.
Do you think the ECI was right in taking a confrontational position with the Karnataka chief electoral officer asking Gandhi to submit the evidence and file an affidavit under oath?
There is no need for an affidavit as the rules cited in the CEO’s communication do not strictly apply in the present circumstances. ECI is a monitor under whose supervision the state machinery performs the function of electoral registration, and the analysis presented by Rahul Gandhi should be taken as a complaint that merits a probe without him tendering any further evidence.
All public authorities are obliged to take notice of such grave complaints, especially when they contain verifiable details. Such details in the public domain should be enough to stir any public authority into action. Only a thorough inquiry can determine the correctness of the analysis and enable ECI to either rectify the rolls or debunk the allegations.
How do you view the ECI’s refusal to share digital data of voters?
ECI has considered such requests in the past and is of the view that providing the data in digital format is prone to manipulation. It could again examine the request whether newer technologies enable it to make its data tamper-proof.
The opposition parties for long have demanded the release of video footage from polling booths. ECI believes this will put voters in danger? Do you agree with the ECI’s stand?
The video footage is meant for internal monitoring by ECI and could be made available in cases where any election is challenged as per law in the competent court. No material in a disputed case should be deleted.
Could a special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls — similar to the one conducted in Bihar — be an effective solution to the problem of duplicate or fraudulent voters?
Such comprehensive exercises are warranted in cases where there are specific apprehensions or inputs regarding contamination of electoral rolls. However, they ought to be undertaken with full preparation of the machinery involved and proper dissemination of information to the affected electors by guiding them fully and providing them adequate time with full scope of redressal of grievances, if any.
The Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi and the Congress had made similar allegations in the past regarding voter rolls. How can ECI resolve all doubts in a transparent manner? Or will there always be doubt?
Nobody can avoid complaints, nor should complaints be summarily dismissed. There should be a provision for red-flagging separately all polling stations wherever there is increase/reduction beyond a preset parameter. These polling stations [should] be identified at the draft stage for a higher level of scrutiny and [for the] attention of the political parties at an appropriate stage.
ECI refused to share the list of names deleted from Bihar’s latest electoral rolls as part of the special intensive revision. How do you view this deletion of names without giving an opportunity for potential voters to respond?
This is unfair even if this is legally or technically justified in the court. ECI wouldn’t lose anything by being more accommodating.
The poll body has said it will share the data only with political parties. Do you agree with the Election Commission’s stand?
Along with political parties, this data should be in the public domain.
The Opposition is painting a larger picture of “vote chori” by linking the alleged vote fraud in Bengaluru to the Bihar SIR issue. Does this cast doubts on the integrity and reputation of ECI?
A credible electoral roll is the heart of the electoral process and it is the ECI’s bounden duty to ensure the integrity of the electoral rolls.
Is it common to find discrepancies in electoral rolls and how does ECI address this issue?
Some discrepancies in one form or the other do creep into electoral rolls and adequate mechanism is available in the extant rules. However, electors, political parties and their agents, the machinery involved in the exercise must exercise due caution and vigil at the right time and ECI must make the exercise more and more transparent.
Following the recent controversy, many are questioning the idea of free and fair elections in India. What steps does ECI need to take to restore faith in the election process?
ECI should be more transparent and communicative. It should regularly meet the stakeholders, including civil society organisations, to listen to their feedback and concerns and share its own thinking to build an environment of trust.
Alka Dhupkar
TIMESOFINDIA.COM
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