Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Rahul Gandhi Escalates Congress Fight Over Alleged Poll Match-Fixing
Rahul Gandhi says elections may have been unfairly changed in two ways.
He pointed to electronic voting machines and voter lists.
He called these alleged problems EVM and voter-list match-fixing.
Gandhi said the 2024 election was completely fixed and rigged.
The Congress wants changes at the Election Commission and the return of more than 13 crore voter names.
It also wants the SIR process stopped.
Gandhi told his party to keep protesting in public and in Parliament.
The Election Commission disagrees with the criticism of its process.
It says different opinions among officials are normal and that its decisions follow the law.
Rahul Gandhi told the Congress Working Committee that alleged EVM and voter-list manipulation was affecting elections.
He claimed the 2024 election was completely fixed and rigged, while citing alleged irregularities in Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Gandhi urged Congress members to continue opposing and resisting the government from the streets to Parliament.
The Congress demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the SIR process and restoration of more than 13 crore deleted voter names.
The Election Commission said differing internal views are normal and that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Working Committee and the Election Commission of India are central to the dispute.
- What
- Gandhi alleged EVM and voter-list match-fixing and urged continued resistance, while the Congress made demands concerning the Election Commission and electoral rolls.
- When
- Gandhi made the remarks at a Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday; the meeting followed reports about objections raised during the previous 10 months.
- Where
- The meeting was held at Indira Bhawan.
- Why
- The Congress says alleged electoral irregularities and the SIR process require political resistance and institutional changes.
Congress allegations and demands
Election Commission response
Electoral integrity
Congress allegations and demands
Rahul Gandhi alleged that EVMs and voter lists were being used to fix elections and said the 2024 election was completely rigged.
Election Commission response
The Election Commission rejected the implication that its process lacked legitimacy, saying its orders follow established statutory procedures and carry full legal sanction.
SIR process
Congress allegations and demands
The Congress demanded that the SIR process be suspended and that more than 13 crore names removed from electoral rolls be restored.
Election Commission response
The Election Commission said differing views and observations during institutional deliberations are normal.
Political response
Congress allegations and demands
Gandhi urged Congress to continue opposition and resistance from the streets to Parliament.
Election Commission response
The commission maintained that its decisions were reached through established institutional and legal procedures.
- Main allegation
- Rahul Gandhi said both EVMs and voter lists were being manipulated.
- 2024 election
- Gandhi described the 2024 election as completely fixed and rigged.
- States cited
- He referred to alleged poll irregularities in Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
- Congress demands
- The party called for Gyanesh Kumar's removal, SIR suspension and restoration of more than 13 crore voter names.
- Meeting duration
- The Congress Working Committee meeting lasted about two and a half hours.
- Election Commission response
- The commission said differing views are normal and its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
- Election officials' objections
- A report said Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over 10 months to certain SIR decisions and orders.