Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing both of engaging in what he described as large-scale electoral fraud and claiming that the fundamental constitutional rights of citizens were being forcefully taken away. Addressing a vast gathering in Aurangabad, Bihar, as part of the ongoing Vote Adhikar Yatra, Gandhi reiterated his charge that democratic institutions were being undermined. Speaking with determination, he told the crowd that neither he nor Tejaswi Yadav feared the Election Commission, insisting that the people of Bihar, too were fearless and committed to fighting for their votes and for the Constitution itself. His remarks came after several locals reported to him that their names had been mysteriously deleted from the voter list, which he pointed to as evidence of systemic manipulation.
He emphasized that the rights enshrined in the Constitution, which should safeguard every citizen, were being steadily eroded. Gandhi vowed to expose what he called the “real picture” of Bihar, reminding the audience that the state had historically played a defining role in shaping the country’s direction. Raising doubts over the credibility of the Election Commission, especially after its press conference earlier that day, he questioned the changes made in the CCTV law and argued that legal barriers had been deliberately created to prevent accountability. According to him, laws introduced under Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had enabled space for electoral malpractice and the theft of votes, but he assured the people that he and his party would resist such moves.
In addition to criticizing the Election Commission, Gandhi also denounced the actions of the police at the rally, pointing out that barricades had been put up in an effort to restrict the movement of the crowds. However, he celebrated the defiance of the people who managed to push past the obstacles, saying that their collective strength reflected the power and spirit of Bihar, drawing loud cheers from the audience. His fiery words sought to present the Congress party as a force standing firmly against what he described as systematic attempts to silence the voice of ordinary voters.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission reacted strongly to his allegations, giving Rahul Gandhi a strict seven-day deadline to either submit an affidavit presenting concrete evidence of his claims or to issue a formal apology to the nation. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, stated clearly that there was no middle ground: either proof had to be submitted or an apology offered. He declared that if no affidavit was received within the stipulated time frame, all such charges would automatically be deemed false and baseless.
The Election Commission dismissed the claims of double voting and electoral theft outright, stressing that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process was being carried out with full transparency and with the involvement of all stakeholders. Terming Gandhi’s allegations as an insult to the Constitution, the Commission argued that using phrases like “vote chori” weakened public faith in democratic institutions. Furthermore, Kumar accused certain political parties of exploiting the Election Commission’s role as a neutral body to influence voters and extract political mileage, asserting that such attacks were both misleading and damaging to the democratic fabric of the nation.
