The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday, August 1, firmly rejected allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Commission of facilitating vote theft in the recent elections. In a strongly worded statement, the ECI termed Gandhi’s claims as “baseless, irresponsible, and lacking any substantiated evidence.”
Rahul Gandhi had recently alleged large-scale manipulation of the electoral process, including voter list tampering and misuse of state machinery. Reacting to this, the Commission said it is “deeply concerned over attempts to undermine public faith in democratic institutions” and clarified that all procedures were conducted transparently, under the scrutiny of political parties and independent observers.
“The allegations do not cite any specific evidence, nor have any formal complaints been filed by the Congress party during the election process,” the Commission noted. It added that such remarks not only erode trust in constitutional bodies but also mislead citizens.
The poll body urged political leaders to exercise restraint and uphold the dignity of democratic discourse. “We welcome constructive feedback, but unfounded allegations aimed at discrediting free and fair elections are unacceptable,” the statement concluded. The Congress party has yet to respond to the Commission’s rebuttal.
