Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated his allegation of “vote theft” by the BJP-led government, claiming that recent elections were not conducted fairly and that India’s institutional framework is under sustained attack. His remarks, made during a public interaction in Germany, triggered sharp reactions from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Allegations of electoral irregularities
Speaking at an event in Berlin, Gandhi pointed to alleged duplicate voters in electoral rolls and claimed that the Congress had, in effect, won the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, while questioning the fairness of the Maharashtra Assembly elections held the same year.
He said the Congress had repeatedly raised these concerns with the Election Commission of India, but did not receive a satisfactory response. Gandhi added that his party has won elections in states such as Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, but continues to question the broader integrity of the electoral process.
‘Full-scale assault on institutions’
Addressing students and policy experts at the Hertie School during a lecture titled Politics Is the Art of Listening, Gandhi alleged that central investigating agencies had been “weaponised” by the Union government.
“Our intelligence agencies, the ED and the CBI, have been used selectively. There are virtually no cases against the BJP, while most political cases target those who oppose them,” he said, adding that businesspersons supporting the Congress face intimidation.
Gandhi argued that the current political contest represents “a clash of two visions of India” and warned that the ruling party’s ideology could deepen social divisions.
BJP responds with strong criticism
The BJP reacted strongly to Gandhi’s remarks. Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje accused him of tarnishing India’s image abroad, stating that he “behaves like a child, not a leader”.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari questioned Gandhi’s intentions and alleged that his statements promoted unrest. In a post on X, Bhandari accused the Congress of undermining Indian democracy and progress.
Ongoing political fallout
Rahul Gandhi, who is on a five-day visit to Germany, also said that millions of Indians hold a vision of the country that differs from that of the government and the RSS, stressing that India’s future should be shaped through dialogue rather than centralised authority.
The comments have added to the growing political friction between the Opposition and the Centre, particularly over election integrity and institutional independence.