New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anurag Thakur on Thursday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling his allegations of systematic voter disenfranchisement “habitual” and politically motivated. Thakur claimed that the opposition has turned the “politics of allegations” into an ornament and frequently apologises after making unsubstantiated claims.
BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over past defeats
Addressing reporters, Thakur said:
“Election after election defeats and a leader who has been rejected by the public, under whose leadership the Congress party has lost nearly 90 elections, his frustration and despair is increasing day by day. They have made the politics of allegations their ornament.”
He added that when the Election Commission of India (ECI) requests verification of claims, Congress avoids cooperation, failing even to file affidavits. According to Thakur, Rahul Gandhi has developed a routine of making false allegations, receiving reprimands from courts, and apologising later.
Taking a dig at Gandhi, Thakur remarked:
“Someone who claimed to have a ‘hydrogen bomb’ had to settle with firecrackers. In every case, whether it is Rafale, Chowkidar Chor, or RSS, he has only received reprimands. Slinging mud and running away has been Rahul Gandhi’s way.”
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote manipulation
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that he was receiving help from insiders within the Election Commission to expose alleged vote fraud. He claimed:
“We have started getting help from inside the Election Commission. This was not happening before, but now we are getting information from inside the Election Commission, and this is not going to stop. India’s people will not accept this. Once the youth comes to know that vote chori is happening, their power will come.”
He further accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting those involved in deleting or adding fake voters to the electoral rolls.
Election Commission refutes claims
Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, the ECI described them as baseless and incorrect, emphasising that no member of the public can delete votes online and that deletions cannot occur without proper due process.
This ongoing clash between BJP and Congress comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of upcoming elections, highlighting the persistent debates over electoral integrity in India.