Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Rahul Gandhi Alleges Rigged Elections, Demands CEC Resignation
Rahul Gandhi says that if votes are wrongly changed or counted, the laws made by elected lawmakers could also be questioned.
He called this “vote chori” leading to “kanoon chori.”
He accused the Election Commission and the government of harming India’s voting system.
He said he was completely certain that several recent elections had been manipulated.
These allegations have not been proven as facts.
Gandhi asked Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
His comments came during a dispute about checking and changing voter lists.
A report said two election commissioners had objected to some decisions many times.
The Election Commission said disagreements can happen during normal internal discussions and that its decisions were unanimous.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that stolen or manipulated votes undermine the legitimacy of laws and institutional changes made by Parliament.
He said he was 100% certain that the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were rigged, though the claims have not been established as facts.
Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of failing to protect voters’ rights and demanded his immediate resignation.
His remarks came amid controversy over the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and reported disagreements within the Election Commission.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal institutional deliberations and maintained that its decisions over the past year were unanimous.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission, the Narendra Modi-led government, and opposition parties are central to the controversy.
- What
- Gandhi alleged electoral manipulation, linked “vote chori” to “kanoon chori,” criticized the Election Commission, and demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- When
- The remarks were made on Thursday amid controversy over the Election Commission’s functioning, the nationwide SIR, and the 2024 elections.
- Where
- At a press conference at Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
- Why
- Gandhi argued that alleged failures to protect voters could weaken the Constitution, Parliament’s laws, and democratic institutions.
Rahul Gandhi and Opposition
Election Commission and Government
Electoral integrity
Rahul Gandhi and Opposition
Gandhi alleges that Indian elections, including the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, were manipulated and that the Election Commission failed to protect voters’ rights.
Election Commission and Government
The Election Commission has defended its functioning and said its decisions were unanimous; the allegations of manipulation have not been established as facts.
Internal disagreements
Rahul Gandhi and Opposition
The reported objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are cited as evidence of concerns about voter registration, deletions, and electoral-roll data.
Election Commission and Government
The Commission says differing views and written observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations.
Leadership accountability
Rahul Gandhi and Opposition
Gandhi and opposition parties are seeking action against Gyanesh Kumar, including his resignation or removal; reports say the INDIA bloc is preparing a removal motion.
Election Commission and Government
The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions were unanimous, while the government and Commission reject the implication of institutional wrongdoing.
- Main allegation
- Gandhi said questionable votes could call into question laws and institutional changes made by lawmakers elected through those votes.
- Resignation demand
- Gandhi demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Election claim
- Gandhi said he was 100% certain that the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections had been manipulated; the claims have not been established as facts.
- Electoral-roll review
- The controversy includes the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Reported objections
- A report said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months.
- Reported concerns
- The objections reportedly involved voter registration, deletion of names, and electoral-roll data.
- Commission response
- The Election Commission said differing views and written observations are normal and maintained that its decisions over the previous year were unanimous.
