Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday intensified the political controversy over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging that the process was being misused for what he called planned and strategic vote theft in Gujarat and other states.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi claimed that a similar pattern had emerged wherever the Special Intensive Revision was carried out. He alleged that the exercise, presented as an administrative process, was actually a deliberate attempt to manipulate elections.
“Wherever there is SIR, there is vote theft. What is happening in Gujarat is not an administrative procedure at all. It is a deliberate, organised and strategic attempt to steal votes,” he said.
Calling the situation shocking and dangerous, Rahul Gandhi alleged that thousands of objections were being filed under a single name. He questioned how such applications were accepted without proper verification.
“The most alarming fact is that thousands upon thousands of objections have been registered under one name,” he said.
He further alleged that voters from specific sections of society and booths believed to support the Congress were being selectively targeted. He claimed that voter names were being removed from areas where the BJP anticipated defeat.
“Votes are being cut from chosen sections and Congress supporting booths. Wherever the BJP senses defeat, voters themselves are being removed from the system,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Drawing comparisons with earlier cases, he alleged that the same pattern was seen in Aland and Rajura and is now being repeated in Gujarat, Rajasthan and other states where the SIR has been implemented.
“The same blueprint was used in Aland, the same happened in Rajura, and now that very blueprint is being implemented across states,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling BJP of weakening the constitutional principle of electoral equality. He alleged that the SIR had been turned into a tool to undermine the right of one person one vote.
“SIR has been converted into a weapon to destroy the constitutional right of one person one vote, so that it is not the people but the BJP that decides who will rule,” he said.
His remarks come days after similar allegations were raised by opposition parties in Gujarat. Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad on January 21, Aam Aadmi Party Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi alleged that more than nine lakh applications seeking deletion of voters were filed during the SIR exercise.
“Such a sudden and massive number of applications is highly suspicious and aimed at weakening democracy,” Gadhvi said, alleging that voters perceived to support opposition parties were being targeted.
Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Chavda echoed these concerns and claimed that nearly ten lakh false Form 7 applications were submitted within a short period.
“The Form 7 applications were negligible until January 15 and were then deposited in bulk between January 16 and 18. This clearly points to a planned conspiracy,” Chavda said.
He demanded transparency from the Election Commission and warned of protests and legal action if any eligible voter was denied their voting rights.
