The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly rebutted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote fraud,” asserting that terms like vote chori insult the Constitution and undermine public trust in elections.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, said the poll body was being unfairly used as a political launchpad. “Every party is the same for us. We will never step back from our constitutional responsibility,” he declared, affirming that the ECI stands firmly with voters.

The pushback coincides with Rahul Gandhi’s launch of the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, aimed at challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Rejecting accusations, the CEC said the SIR was initiated in response to parties’ demands for voter list corrections. He urged political outfits to utilise the one-month window to flag errors, stressing that “the doors of the Election Commission are always open.”

CEC Mr Kumar noted that more than one crore officials and lakhs of polling agents ensure transparency, making large-scale fraud impossible. “Some spoke of double voting, but when we asked for proof, none was given,” he said. On the demand for machine-readable lists, he reminded that the Supreme Court had warned against privacy breaches.

Taking direct aim at Rahul Gandhi, the CEC said under electoral rules, non-voters of a constituency can complain only by oath before the registration officer. “Either an affidavit must be submitted, or he must apologise to the nation. There is no third option,” Mr Kumar warned, giving a seven-day deadline.

Reiterating its neutrality, the ECI said it cannot remain silent when voters themselves are insulted for political gain.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly rebutted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote fraud,” asserting that terms like vote chori insult the Constitution and undermine public trust in elections.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, said the poll body was being unfairly used as a political launchpad. “Every party is the same for us. We will never step back from our constitutional responsibility,” he declared, affirming that the ECI stands firmly with voters.

The pushback coincides with Rahul Gandhi’s launch of the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, aimed at challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Rejecting accusations, the CEC said the SIR was initiated in response to parties’ demands for voter list corrections. He urged political outfits to utilise the one-month window to flag errors, stressing that “the doors of the Election Commission are always open.”

CEC Mr Kumar noted that more than one crore officials and lakhs of polling agents ensure transparency, making large-scale fraud impossible. “Some spoke of double voting, but when we asked for proof, none was given,” he said. On the demand for machine-readable lists, he reminded that the Supreme Court had warned against privacy breaches.

Taking direct aim at Rahul Gandhi, the CEC said under electoral rules, non-voters of a constituency can complain only by oath before the registration officer. “Either an affidavit must be submitted, or he must apologise to the nation. There is no third option,” Mr Kumar warned, giving a seven-day deadline.

Reiterating its neutrality, the ECI said it cannot remain silent when voters themselves are insulted for political gain.