Rahul Gandhi Alleges Widespread Election Fraud, Targets BJP and ECI

Rahul Gandhi Alleges Widespread Election Fraud, Targets BJP and ECI

RMN News Report Highlights:

By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | July 23, 2025

New Delhi, India – Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has intensified his accusations of electoral malpractices, directly implicating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Speaking virtually at the Congress’s Nav Sankalp Shivir in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandu on Monday (July 21), Mr. Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were “stolen” and raised serious questions about the appearance of over one crore new voters in the voter rolls. He further asserted that the recent Madhya Pradesh elections were similarly manipulated, and warned about potential fraud in the upcoming Bihar election.

These recent statements come as Mr. Gandhi continues to vocalize concerns about the integrity of India’s electoral process, following his earlier accusation of “match-fixing” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP in the Maharashtra polls. The Madhya Pradesh Congress shared a video of his address on their Twitter (X) handle on July 22.

Recurring Allegations and Calls for Stronger Opposition Action

Critics note that Mr. Gandhi’s allegations of election manipulation have become a pattern after electoral defeats in various states and the Lok Sabha elections, often followed by a period of perceived political quiet. His current focus on the Bihar election adds to a growing list of concerns.

There is a prevalent view that Mr. Gandhi’s approach, largely limited to informing the public about alleged electoral manipulations, falls short of an effective political strategy to counter such issues. This perceived weakness, some argue, inadvertently benefits the BJP.

Evolving Tactics of Alleged Election Fraud

It is widely claimed that the Modi-led BJP, in alleged collusion with the ECI, selectively manipulates Lok Sabha and key state elections. While concerns initially centered on electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering, public outcry has reportedly led to a diversification of these tactics.

New methods now allegedly include tampering with electoral rolls, fraudulent election result declarations, voter intimidation, and bribery. Without these purported illicit practices, it is contended that the BJP and Modi would struggle to win elections, given widespread public discontent over poverty, corruption, inflation, unemployment, lawlessness, and religious animosity under the current government.

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The lack of a unified and forceful opposition against these alleged electoral malpractices means the BJP continues to secure victories, while Rahul Gandhi’s complaints largely remain in the realm of social media.

India’s Declining Transparency and Rising Corruption

The alleged rampant election frauds are also seen as a significant factor contributing to an exponential increase in corruption in the country. The Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024, released in February 2025, placed India at 96th position out of 180 countries, a drop from its 93rd rank in the previous year. With a score of 38 out of 100, India is now categorized among the world’s most corrupt nations.

The Transparency Index clearly indicates that corruption tends to increase in repressive authoritarian nations where elections are not fair and transparent, and democratic institutions are under constant attack by the ruling regime. Full democracies have a CPI average of 73, flawed democracies average 47, and non-democratic regimes just 33. India’s score of 38 places it within the non-democratic category, suggesting a higher degree of authoritarianism and corruption compared to even China, which ranks 76 on the CPI.

Demand for Boycott and Nationwide Protests

In light of the persistent allegations of election fraud, some voices suggest that the Congress party, if it truly believes in these claims, should consider boycotting elections as a form of protest. Instead, they propose, the party should organize continuous street demonstrations across the country until election transparency is definitively guaranteed. The absence of other effective opposition parties or leaders to challenge the BJP’s alleged election malpractices further underscores the urgency of such action.