In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that India’s democracy is “under siege” from systematic vote-rigging by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. He alleged that centralised manipulation of voter rolls, supposedly aided by the Election Commission of India (ECI), is being used to “steal elections.”
But a closer look at Gandhi’s statements reveals a disturbing pattern: instead of presenting evidence, the Congress chief is attempting to erode public trust in the very institutions that uphold Indian democracy. Gandhi himself admitted that the strategy behind these allegations is to “challenge the integrity of India’s electoral system by building public pressure.” In other words, the purpose is not to correct flaws, but to manufacture doubt and cover for the party’s own electoral failures.
Gandhi has offered no verifiable proof that vote manipulation occurred on a scale large enough to influence results. While he provided “sample evidence” from Karnataka and Maharashtra regarding deleted or duplicate voters and bulk registrations, independent verification by the Financial Times was impossible. His claims remain anecdotal, selective, and politically convenient.
This tactic is particularly striking given the Congress party’s recent track record. Under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, the party has suffered repeated electoral defeats, losing around 90 elections in recent years. Instead of introspection or strategic reform, Gandhi appears intent on blaming India’s electoral machinery and Prime Minister Modi. By attacking the credibility of the Election Commission, he is effectively asking the public to distrust the democratic process itself.
Analysts have noted that Gandhi’s focus on Bihar’s upcoming state elections is a clear attempt to influence voters through fear and suspicion. By casting doubt on the impartiality of the ECI, Gandhi is attempting to pre-emptively delegitimise any potential losses, while presenting himself as a martyr fighting a “rigged system.”
India’s democracy is the world’s largest and one of the most robust, has mechanisms in place to ensure transparency and fairness. Allegations of voting irregularities have long existed across parties and elections – why, even Congress has a very long history of such vote chori, yet historically, political rivals have accepted results and participated in democratic processes. Gandhi’s strategy breaks with this tradition, undermining trust in an institution that is central to India’s democratic fabric.
In short, Rahul Gandhi’s recent statements are less about electoral integrity and more about political expediency. By creating a narrative of rigged elections without evidence, he seeks to shift attention away from Congress’ failures and weaken public faith in the democratic process. This is a dangerous precedent: when opposition leaders encourage distrust in foundational institutions, the damage is not limited to partisan politics, it erodes the very legitimacy of India’s democracy.
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