BJP Challenges Rahul Gandhi to Back ‘Vote Chori’ Claims, Questions Congress on EVMs and SIR

The BJP on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of politicising his meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and using the highest constitutional office to advance the Opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”. The party challenged the Congress to produce evidence of electoral irregularities and answer questions about its handling of voter rolls, polling procedures and demands for CCTV footage.

Addressing the media in New Delhi, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said Gandhi’s statements following the INDIA bloc delegation’s meeting with the President appeared politically motivated.

Trivedi said the President had granted time to Opposition leaders protesting against the Election Commission of India and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He questioned Gandhi’s account of the meeting, arguing that only those present could establish what had transpired.

Drawing a parallel with Gandhi’s earlier remarks concerning the Supreme Court, Trivedi referred to the Congress leader’s unconditional apology over statements linking the court to the “Chowkidar Chor Hai” slogan during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He alleged that Gandhi was now invoking the President’s office to further his political narrative.

The BJP spokesperson also questioned whether Congress Booth Level Agents (BLAs) had verified electoral rolls during recent by-elections and submitted objections wherever discrepancies were found. He asked whether the party’s polling agents had raised concerns during voting or counting and whether the Congress intended to seek CCTV footage within the stipulated 45-day period.

Trivedi argued that the party should use the available procedures to substantiate its allegations rather than later citing the expiry of the deadline as a reason for not obtaining footage.

Questioning the Congress’s criticism of both Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and SIR, he said the party needed to explain the basis of its allegations concerning voting technology and voter registration.

Citing the Silchar Municipal Corporation elections in Assam, conducted using ballot papers, Trivedi said the BJP and its NDA allies had won 34 of the 42 seats. He invoked the result to challenge the Congress’s claims of electoral manipulation.

The BJP spokesperson listed five questions for the Congress, covering voter-roll verification, objections during polling and counting, requests for CCTV footage, evidence supporting Gandhi’s account of the presidential meeting and the party’s allegations regarding EVMs and SIR.

Trivedi accused the Congress of repeatedly targeting constitutional institutions after electoral defeats and called on Gandhi to substantiate his claims with evidence.

BJP’s Five Questions to the Congress

1. Did the Congress verify electoral rolls during the by-elections and file objections or complaints over discrepancies?
2. Did its representatives raise objections during polling or vote counting, when CCTV surveillance was in place?
3. Will the party seek CCTV footage or other relevant information within the stipulated 45-day period?
4. What evidence supports Gandhi’s account of the meeting with President Murmu, and his allegations made in connection with that meeting?
5. What is the basis of the Congress’s allegations concerning EVMs and SIR, and how does it reconcile its claims about voting technology with those about voter registration?