New Delhi – A political storm is brewing over allegations of voter fraud in Karnataka during the last Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP of orchestrating a massive voter scam to win the Mahadevapura Assembly seat.
Rahul claims that over 1,00,250 fake votes were created to tilt the results in BJP’s favor. He presented what he called “proof” — including two voter entries for a woman named Shakun Rani, each with different photos and spellings. He also showed a document with a polling officer’s tick mark, suggesting it was used to validate duplicate voting.
However, the Election Commission (EC) has rejected these allegations. According to their preliminary inquiry:
- Shakun Rani voted only once.
- The tick-marked paper was not issued by any polling official.
- Rahul’s claims lacked verified documentation.
In response, Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi, demanding that he submit supporting documents by August 25. If he fails to do so, the EC warned of possible action. They’ve asked him to either provide a signed declaration backing his claims or issue a public apology.
Rahul, however, stood his ground. He stated that he had already taken an oath in Parliament and didn’t need to submit an affidavit. The Congress party has refused to comply with the EC’s demand.
Spotlight on “Vote Chori” – A Trending Political Flashpoint
The term Vote Chori (meaning “vote theft”) has exploded across social media and Google Trends, becoming a rallying cry for electoral transparency.
Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have launched a full-fledged campaign against what they call systematic voter fraud. Their demands include:
- Public release of digital, machine-readable voter rolls
- Greater transparency from the Election Commission
- Citizen participation in auditing electoral data
To mobilize public support, Congress has launched a dedicated portal: votechori.in. Through this site, citizens can:
- Register their support for electoral reforms
- Download what Congress calls “Vote Chori Proof”
- Report suspicious voter entries
- Receive a digital certificate stating they stand against vote theft
Rahul Gandhi has described Vote Chori as an attack on the core democratic principle of “one person, one vote.” He claims that in just one constituency, over a lakh fake voters were added — and warns that if this pattern repeats across dozens of seats, it could undermine the entire electoral process.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just a political spat — it’s a battle over the integrity of India’s democracy. With the 2029 elections on the horizon, the Vote Chori debate is likely to intensify, drawing attention from voters, watchdogs, and international observers alike.
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