NEW DELHI – Escalating its campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Indian National Congress has launched a dedicated webpage to rally public support behind its allegations of electoral fraud, which the party has dubbed “vote chori” (vote theft). The initiative is a direct response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent claims of widespread rigging in the Lok Sabha elections.
The new portal, which can be accessed by the public, allows citizens to register their support for Gandhi’s demand for digital voter rolls and to demand accountability from the ECI. The website features a video from Rahul Gandhi, where he reiterates his charge of a “huge criminal fraud” carried out through alleged collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission.
He has cited an analysis of voter lists in a specific Karnataka constituency, claiming it revealed over 100,000 “fake voters” that contributed to the BJP’s victory.
According to a report in The Hindu, the portal carries a message stating that the “vote is the foundation of our democracy, but it’s under systematic attack by the BJP, with the Election Commission complicit.” Visitors can download what the party claims is “vote chori proof” and a certificate of support that is personally signed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, and Treasurer Ajay Maken.
The move comes amidst a heated exchange between the Congress and the ECI. The Election Commission has pushed back against Gandhi’s allegations, challenging him to either submit a signed declaration with evidence or apologize for what it calls “baseless allegations.”
The Congress, however, has insisted that it has concrete proof and is now turning to a public campaign to amplify its demands for transparency. The party’s state units, including in Rajasthan, are also launching parallel campaigns to mobilize support, indicating that this issue is likely to be a central part of the Congress’s political strategy in the coming months.
