Approach the courts or EC if you have proof: Eknath Shinde on Rahul Gandhi's 'vote theft' allegations

Eknath Shinde

Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "vote theft" allegations, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the Congress party should approach the court or the Election Commission if they have a proof. Speaking at an event in Thane, Shinde said by making such "baseless claims", they have insulted the people of Maharashtra.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, took the reporters through an online presentation of the 2024 Lok Sabha poll data analysed by the Congress to claim that over 1 lakh votes were "stolen" in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in the Lok Sabha constituency of Bangalore Central through five types of manipulation techniques.

Citing 2024 Lok Sabha poll data, Gandhi pointed out that the BJP secured 6,58,915 votes in the Bangalore Central seat, winning with a margin of 32,707. "In the Mahadevapura assembly segment, the Congress received 1,15,586 votes, whereas the BJP garnered 2,29,632 votes. The Congress won all the Vidhan Sabhas except Mahadevapura, where the BJP swept and secured a victory margin of 1,14,046 votes. This seat significantly contributed to their election win, and the Lok Sabha result went in their favour on that seat," Gandhi said.

"If they have proof, they should go to the court or the Election Commission. By making such baseless claims, they have insulted the citizens of Maharashtra who elected the Mahayuti (comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP), as well as our sisters, brothers, farmers and the people of the state," Shinde remarked.

The Election Commission on Friday accused Gandhi of recycling old allegations of poll irregularities settled by the Supreme Court, and asked the Congress leader to provide a written declaration on his claims about wrongful entries in the voters' list or tender an apology.

The Election Commission has rejected the claims made by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over vote theft. The Commission mentioned that many such allegations are being made by Rahul Gandhi, though no written complaint ever being submitted by him. The poll body said, in the past as well, he has never personally sent a self-signed letter to the Commission. Highlighting the Maharashtra election issue raised by Mr Gandhi in December 2024, the ECI said that it has issued reply in December last year which is publicly available on Commission’s website but Mr Gandhi claims that ECI never responded.