New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party today dismissed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s recent claims of electoral rigging in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, likening them to “cutting the very branch on which one sits.”
At a press briefing here, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav criticised the Congress leader for adopting an “unbecoming tone” towards the Election Commission, warning officials of repercussions for allegedly facilitating the ruling party’s purported malpractices.
“Rahul Gandhi’s lies about ‘electoral fraud’ would be laughable if they were not so dangerous for Indian democracy,” he said, underscoring the sanctity of constitutional institutions. Yadav emphasised, “such language is unprecedented and inappropriate.”
Referring to official data from the Election Commission, Yadav clarified that the number of voters in the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls rose by over 40 lakh compared to the Lok Sabha elections held earlier that year — far less than the figure of one crore alleged by Rahul Gandhi.
“The Opposition leader had evidently invested considerable time in preparing his narrative,” Yadav observed, “but the fundamental premise of his accusation stands disproved.” He accused Gandhi of orchestrating an elaborate campaign to propagate misinformation, adding, “Henceforth, every claim from his side should be met with a 60% discount.”
Highlighting several constituencies such as Madha, Mohol, Nagpur West, and Nagpur North — all won by Congress or its allies — Yadav pointed out the corresponding increase in voter numbers in these areas, which directly contradicts the opposition’s assertions.
Addressing Gandhi’s promise of evidence akin to an “atom bomb,” Yadav dismissed it as a futile attempt at self-sabotage, reiterating, “This is like cutting the branch on which one is seated,” and called rhetoric against the Election Commission an assault on India’s democratic fabric.
“If there are genuine grievances regarding the electoral process,” Yadav suggested, “ Gandhi should substantiate his allegations through a sworn affidavit to the Election Commission, rather than resorting to media theatrics.”
He accused the Congress of persistently disseminating falsehoods aimed at discrediting the electoral body following its electoral setbacks. “Their strategy is simple — lie and evade accountability,” he stated, alluding to the opposition’s parliamentary disruptions over the Special Intensive Review of Bihar’s electoral rolls as attempts to avoid substantive debate.
“The Congress is systematically undermining our constitutional institutions for familial political gains,” Yadav noted, citing Gandhi’s earlier disparagement of the armed forces and noting the latter’s subsequent apology to the Supreme Court for unfounded claims.
The controversy erupted after Rahul Gandhi, yesterday, presented an “analysis” of electoral data from a Karnataka Lok Sabha constituency during the 2024 elections. He alleged “massive criminal fraud” orchestrated by the BJP with the complicity of the Election Commission, branding it a “crime against the Constitution.” Gandhi has also accused the BJP-led alliance of rigging the Maharashtra Assembly polls to secure victory.
UNI
