Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi courted controversy on Wednesday with an aggressive warning to the Election Commission of India (ECI), saying, “See what we will do to you” if the Commission fails to release crucial electoral data. The comment, widely seen as a veiled threat, has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and political observers alike.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Gandhi demanded access to electronic voter records and CCTV footage from the last 15 years. He claimed that withholding this data would make the Commission a participant in a larger crime against Indian democracy.
Gandhi accused the ECI of withholding voter turnout data and warned of “consequences” for every official involved, once the opposition comes to power.
Rahul Gandhi openly threatened polling officers saying “There are going to be consequences for every single polling officer who is doing this. Doesn’t matter how senior you are how junior you are. One day the Opposition is coming to power and then you see what we do to you.”
That’s a direct threat to the EC by Chinese agent @RahulGandhi.
Just listen to the language of someone who calls himself the saviour of democracy!! pic.twitter.com/MCXlBD2hzR
— BALA (@erbmjha) August 7, 2025
Reacting strongly, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed Gandhi for his “election rage,” calling his remarks a dangerous precedent. “Rahul Gandhi’s language is not just undemocratic but deeply threatening. Is this how a Leader of the Opposition is expected to behave?” Patra asked, adding that BJP, despite being in the opposition for years, never stooped to such intimidation.
Critics say Gandhi’s statement reflects a growing pattern of hostility and entitlement, with even neutral institutions now being targeted. Observers warn that such rhetoric undermines democratic norms and could erode public trust in India’s electoral process.
In response to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of voter list manipulation, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka has formally requested that the Congress leader provide specific names of individuals he claims were wrongly added or removed from the state’s electoral rolls.
In an official letter sent shortly after Gandhi’s press conference in New Delhi, the state election official referenced his claims about irregularities. The letter stated, “You had alleged the inclusion of ineligible voters and the exclusion of eligible ones from the rolls… Kindly submit the names of such electors along with a signed declaration under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, so that appropriate action may be taken.”
Sources in the Election Commission said the Karnataka CEO is expecting Gandhi’s signed response by the end of the day.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle took a veiled jab at Gandhi, posting the required form along with a pointed remark: “If Mr. Rahul Gandhi does not stand by his own statements, he should refrain from making baseless claims and confusing the public.”
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