New Delhi [India], September 1 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday once again accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "vote theft" and alleged that the party was conspiring to "hollow out Indian democracy", claiming that voters were being added or deleted from electoral rolls to suit its political interests.
In a post on X, Kharge alleged, "The BJP's conspiracy to hollow out Indian democracy by stealing votes is being openly exposed. Voters are added wherever it suits the BJP, while votes are deleted--amounting to 'vote theft'--wherever it causes them inconvenience."
https://x.com/kharge/status/2094757993187610704
Targeting the Election Commission, Kharge also said, "Instead of acting as the guardian of fair elections, the Election Commission is functioning like a 'Save BJP's Seat Commission.'"
Citing Maharashtra, the Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition said the voter count "suddenly rose" between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and alleged that 2.07 crore voters are now missing from the draft electoral roll. "In Maharashtra, the voter count suddenly rose between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Now, 2.07 crore voters are missing from the draft electoral roll."
"In Bengal, 91% of the names deleted from the rolls had to be reinstated following appeals. The question arises: were these voters removed during the election period to help the BJP win?" he added.
Kharge further alleged that a similar situation was now unfolding in Delhi. "The same game is now being played out in Delhi. Voter numbers were increased prior to the Assembly elections; subsequently, the names of 47.56 lakh voters are missing from the draft list, and preparations are underway to issue notices to another 33 lakh voters," he said.
He also claimed that Congress workers in Telangana and Karnataka were facing "similar tactics" on a daily basis.
Kharge further said, "The nation is now uniting against vote theft. The country has understood the BJP's conspiracy. The thief has been caught. The punishment for holding democracy hostage is inevitable!"
The Congress has repeatedly raised allegations concerning electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission.
Renewing his "vote theft" allegations against the BJP-led government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the ruling party at the Centre and the Election Commission "keep changing their tactics" for a common purpose and that "people are not important for a government built on vote theft".
Accusing the Election Commission of being a "Vote Theft Commission", Rahul Gandhi cited figures from voter lists in Maharashtra and the proceedings of SIR appellate tribunals in West Bengal to back his "vote theft" allegations.
Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, alleged in a post on X that the BJP "does not listen" to the people or obey their command, as its government is built on "vote theft".
The fresh "vote theft" allegations have resurfaced amid preparations by political parties for assembly polls in Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur early next year.