The Congress party today launches a massive statewide campaign across Madhya Pradesh, directly accusing authorities of widespread ‘vote theft’ in recent elections. This urgent, coordinated effort sees Congress leaders mobilizing supporters in every district, claiming serious irregularities undermined the democratic process. The party alleges that unfair practices and illegal actions altered election outcomes, prompting a high-stakes challenge to the state’s electoral integrity. This bold move escalates political tensions, as the Congress demands immediate investigations and justice for what it calls a fundamental betrayal of public trust.
Understanding the Concerns
The Congress party in Madhya Pradesh has begun a widespread campaign across the state, focusing on what it calls “vote theft” and alleged irregularities in voter lists. This move follows claims made by the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, regarding electoral processes. The party aims to reach every booth and household, making people aware of what it describes as an attack on democratic principles.
The campaign includes various public actions. Torch processions were planned on the night of August 14. large rallies are set to take place at all district headquarters starting August 22 and continuing until September 7. State Congress leaders, including Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Jitu Patwari and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, have been central to articulating the party’s concerns, stating that this is a critical fight to protect the country’s democratic foundations.
Specific Allegations Made by the Party
The Congress party’s core allegations revolve around what they describe as “vote theft” and manipulation of voter lists. Rahul Gandhi specifically pointed to data from the 2024 general elections, claiming that more than one lakh votes were “stolen” in the Mahadevapura assembly part of Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency. This alleged manipulation, according to Gandhi, led to the defeat of a Congress candidate in that seat.
The methods of alleged manipulation outlined by the Congress include several points:
- Duplicate voters, where the same person is registered more than once.
- Fake or invalid addresses used for voter registrations.
- Bulk voters registered at a single address, raising suspicions of false entries.
- Invalid photos associated with voter entries.
- Misuse of Form 6, which is used for adding new voters to the list.
Beyond the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has also raised doubts about the fairness of the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly elections held in November 2023. They have cited Election Commission data, suggesting that 8 to 10 percent of voters on the list used for those elections were suspected to be fake.
The party claims that it is actively researching numerous other parliamentary seats across the country, particularly those where the ruling party won in 2024 with a margin of less than 50,000 votes, to uncover more alleged voter list manipulations.
Call for Transparency and Public Involvement
The Congress party is calling for greater transparency from the Election Commission of India. A key demand is the public release of digital voter lists, which the party believes would allow political parties and citizens to audit the lists themselves for any discrepancies.
The party has launched a dedicated web portal, votechori. in, as part of its campaign. This platform allows people to register their support, access what the party presents as “vote chori proof,” demand accountability from the Election Commission. report instances of alleged “vote chori.” Congress leaders emphasize that this initiative is not about political gain but about protecting the rights of every citizen and upholding the Constitution.
“We will take the campaign against vote theft to every booth and house across Madhya Pradesh and make people aware about vote theft,” said state Congress in-charge Harish Chaudhary. He added, “vote theft is not only a violation of the law. also an attack on democracy and the Constitution.”
State Congress president Jeetu Patwari stressed that “People across the country must take part in Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against ‘vote theft’ if they want to protect democracy and prevent dictatorship”.
Election Commission’s Stance
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly rejected the allegations made by the Congress party. The commission has labeled these claims as “baseless,” “false and misleading,” and “wild allegations.” It has firmly stated that it ignores such statements, maintaining that its officials work impartially and transparently.
In response to Rahul Gandhi’s claims, the Election Commission has formally asked him to provide a signed declaration or an oath to substantiate his allegations, as per Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The ECI has indicated that if such a declaration is not provided, it would imply that the allegations are unsubstantiated and demand an apology to the nation.
The commission has also provided explanations for its practices. It clarified that voter rolls are available in PDF format. they are not provided in a machine-readable format to prevent misuse and to protect voter privacy. The Election Commission maintains that no voter is deleted from the electoral rolls without prior notice. it has refuted claims that its official websites were shut down following the allegations.
The Election Commission stated that it “ignores such baseless allegations being made on a daily basis and, despite threats being given daily, asks all election officials to ignore such irresponsible statements while working impartially and transparently”.
Ruling Party’s Counter-Arguments
The ruling party has strongly denied the Congress’s allegations of “vote theft” and electoral manipulation. Leaders of the ruling party have dismissed these claims as mere excuses by the Congress for their electoral defeats and as an attempt to undermine democratic institutions.
They have accused the Congress of defaming democracy and constitutional bodies like the Election Commission. The ruling party has also launched a counter-attack, alleging irregularities in voter registration in constituencies held by prominent opposition leaders. They have demanded the resignation of these representatives, claiming they secured victory through similar “vote theft” tactics.
BJP leader and MP minister Vishwas Sarang stated that “By using words like vote theft, Rahul Gandhi is insulting democracy”.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused the Congress of “spreading falsehoods, avoiding evidence, maligning democratic institutions. misleading the public.”
Historical Context of Voter List Concerns
Concerns about voter list accuracy have surfaced in Madhya Pradesh elections before. For example, similar allegations of inflating voter lists were made by the then-state Congress president Kamal Nath ahead of the 2018 assembly polls. He had cited data to allege significant errors in the voter list at that time.
In response to Kamal Nath’s complaints in 2018, the Election Commission had acknowledged that there were duplicate and fake entries. in the process of rectification, around 24 lakh names were removed from the voter list published in January 2018. It also admitted that a significant number of photo entries were suspicious or unclear. The Congress party highlights this past instance as proof that voter list irregularities are a recurring issue that needs constant vigilance and transparency.
Impact on Public Discussion
The ongoing campaign and the accusations of “vote theft” have intensified public discussion around the fairness of elections. The Congress’s efforts to spread awareness through rallies and digital platforms aim to engage citizens directly on these issues. The claims and counter-claims from major political parties contribute to a polarized environment where trust in electoral processes can be debated.
The Election Commission’s insistence on a formal declaration from accusers and its defense of its procedures highlight the procedural aspects of addressing such serious allegations. The public’s perception will likely be shaped by the continued exchange of details and the transparency demonstrated by all involved parties. The campaign underscores the importance placed by political groups on electoral integrity and the active role they believe citizens must play in safeguarding it.
