Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has raised serious allegations against the BJP and the Election Commission regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Gujarat. According to him, this process has gone beyond a normal administrative exercise and has become a strategic tool for “vote manipulation”.
SIR as a Tool for “Vote Manipulation”
Rahul Gandhi stated that wherever SIR is implemented, voters’ names are being removed from selected communities and polling booths. He alleged that the BJP is targeting areas where it fears electoral defeat. He further claimed that thousands of objections have been filed under the same name, raising questions about the transparency and credibility of the voter lists.
Congress Allegation: Voters Being Removed From the System
Rahul Gandhi emphasized that in areas where the BJP anticipates losses, voters are being deliberately removed from the system. He highlighted that Congress-supporting booths are particularly affected, pointing to a systematic effort to suppress opposition votes.
Criticism of the Election Commission
Rahul Gandhi also accused the Election Commission of failing as the guardian of democracy, suggesting it has become a participant in vote manipulation schemes. According to him, such practices undermine the constitutional right of “one person, one vote” and can influence election outcomes.
Political Implications and Response
The Gujarat Congress has shared documents on social media alleging violations in the voter deletion process. They also claim that the Election Commission provided no satisfactory response when asked for clarification.
These allegations have intensified the political environment ahead of upcoming elections, making this issue a center of debate on transparency and fairness in democratic processes.