Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Rahul Gandhi Calls ‘Vote Chori’ Claims an Act of Treason
Rahul Gandhi says that votes may have been unfairly handled during a review of voter lists.
He calls this alleged practice “vote chori.”
He says it harms Indian citizens and the Constitution.
His comments followed a report by The Indian Express about disagreements inside the Election Commission.
The report said two election commissioners objected to decisions about the voter-list review at least 14 times.
The Congress blamed the head of the Election Commission and the ruling BJP.
The BJP and the Election Commission have rejected these accusations.
Gandhi says justice will eventually be served.
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP, RSS and Election Commission of treason over alleged electoral-roll manipulation.
He called “vote chori” a crime against Indian citizens and a direct attack on the Constitution.
The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected to SIR-related decisions at least 14 times.
The objections reportedly concerned decisions and orders taken without their knowledge, including four objections on one day.
The Congress alleged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was controlling the poll panel improperly, while the BJP and Election Commission rejected the allegations.
- Who
- Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi; the BJP, RSS and Election Commission were named in his accusation. The report involved Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- What
- Gandhi renewed allegations of “vote chori,” calling alleged electoral-roll manipulation an attack on the Constitution and an act of treason.
- When
- Wednesday; one report dated Gandhi’s post September 23, 2026.
- Where
- India, involving the national Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Why
- Gandhi made the accusation after The Indian Express reported repeated internal objections to decisions related to the voter-list revision.
Congress and Rahul Gandhi
BJP and Election Commission
Electoral-roll process
Congress and Rahul Gandhi
The Congress and Gandhi allege large-scale irregularities, collusion with the BJP and manipulation of voter lists.
BJP and Election Commission
The BJP and Election Commission have rejected the allegations of electoral irregularities and collusion.
Election Commission leadership
Congress and Rahul Gandhi
The Congress accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of running the poll panel at his whim and being controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP and Election Commission
The BJP and Election Commission rejected the broader accusations; the articles do not provide a detailed point-by-point response from either.
Internal dissent over SIR
Congress and Rahul Gandhi
The report is cited as evidence that two election commissioners formally objected to SIR-related decisions made without their knowledge.
BJP and Election Commission
The articles report the objections but do not establish that they prove electoral manipulation or treason.
- Main accuser
- Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Main allegation
- “Vote chori” and alleged manipulation of electoral rolls
- Election process
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Reported objections
- At least 14 formal objections over the previous 10 months
- Election commissioners named
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Reported concentration of objections
- Four objections were reportedly raised on a single day
- Responses
- The BJP and Election Commission rejected the allegations
