Rahul Gandhi Alleges ‘Vote Theft’ at INDIA Bloc Rally; Mamata Banerjee Targets BJP Over SIR

Electoral transparency, alleged voter-list manipulation and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls dominated the speeches of Opposition leaders at the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission and the ruling establishment of allowing what he described as widespread “vote theft” across several states and during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of misusing government institutions and targeting West Bengal through the SIR exercise. Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi, meanwhile, said the Opposition's unity would eventually translate into political change.

The rally, organised under the slogan 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao', brought together leaders of several INDIA bloc parties to raise concerns about electoral processes and demand accountability from the Election Commission.

Rahul Gandhi Alleges Vote Theft Across Several States

Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi alleged that electoral irregularities had taken place over several years and across multiple states.

He named Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, along with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while claiming that votes had been stolen through electronic voting machines (EVMs) and manipulation of electoral rolls.

According to Gandhi, the alleged irregularities involved both the deletion of existing voter names and the addition of names to electoral lists.

He argued that these practices raised serious questions about the fairness and credibility of elections in the country.

However, these were allegations made by the Congress leader at the rally. The statements provided for this report do not include supporting evidence or independent findings establishing the claims.

Rahul Gandhi Claims 15% of Voters Were Removed

In another part of his address, Rahul Gandhi claimed that 15 per cent of India's voters had been removed from electoral rolls after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He used this figure to question the legitimacy of the 2024 general election, describing it as an “illegal election” and a “stolen election”.

Gandhi further claimed that the figure came from the Election Commission itself. He said the Commission's own information supported his allegation.

The claim requires clarification regarding the specific electoral data, the period covered and the basis for calculating the alleged 15 per cent reduction. No supporting document or detailed explanation was included in the remarks supplied.

The issue of changes to electoral rolls has become a major point of disagreement between the Opposition and the Election Commission, particularly in states where SIR is underway or has been a subject of political and legal debate.

Mamata Banerjee Accuses BJP of Misusing Institutions

Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP during her address, accusing the party of exploiting government institutions for political purposes.

She alleged that the BJP had been involved in controversies concerning funds associated with Ram Janmabhoomi and Waqf properties. These allegations were made during her political speech and were not accompanied by supporting details in the material available for this report.

Banerjee also accused the BJP of using the police for political activities, claiming that the party relied on government agencies and law enforcement institutions instead of building its own organisational strength.

She asserted that the BJP would eventually lose political power.

Mamata Banerjee Vows to Resist SIR in West Bengal

The SIR exercise in West Bengal was another major subject of Banerjee's speech.

Describing Bengal as a victim of the circumstances surrounding the revision exercise, she said her party would not surrender and would continue its political fight.

Banerjee declared that she was prepared to fight for the state and its democratic rights. She accused the BJP of exploiting Bengal and said her objective was to protect democracy.

She also said that the political response to the BJP would come through democratic means, emphasising that her party would continue its struggle through politics rather than surrendering to pressure.

Her remarks reflect the Trinamool Congress's opposition to the SIR process and its concerns about the possible impact of electoral roll revisions in West Bengal.

Deepa Dasmunsi Says Opposition Unity Will Challenge BJP

Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi highlighted the unity among Opposition parties at the rally.

She said the Opposition was united and expressed confidence that the alliance would eventually govern the country.

Dasmunsi also alleged that those involved in “vote chori” would face legal consequences and said they would be behind bars.

Her remarks reflected the Congress's effort to present the INDIA bloc as a united political alternative to the BJP.

SIR and Electoral Transparency Remain Central to Opposition Campaign

The speeches at Ramlila Maidan highlighted the INDIA bloc's attempt to make electoral transparency a central political issue.

Rahul Gandhi focused on alleged irregularities in elections and changes to voter lists, while Mamata Banerjee concentrated on the impact of SIR in West Bengal and accused the BJP of using state institutions for political purposes.

The Opposition's demands are centred on protecting the right to vote, ensuring that eligible voters remain on electoral rolls and strengthening public confidence in the Election Commission.

At the same time, the allegations made by political leaders require examination against official electoral data, relevant documents and responses from the authorities concerned.