'EC should have a debate with Rahul Gandhi': Aaditya Thackeray backs 'vote theft' claims

Aaditya Thackeray at CNN-News18 Townhall in Mumbai.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations of "vote chori (vote theft) against the Election Commission and said that the poll body must come clean. He called it "the biggest crime to commit".

Speaking at the CNN-News18 Townhall, Mumbai edition, Aaditya Thackeray questioned why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was getting “rattled" by the INDIA bloc raising concerns about alleged “fake voters" in Lok Sabha elections.

He further added, “We are not even pretending to be a democracy. A complete clean-up is expected about the vote-chori. EC should come out and have a debate with Rahul Gandhi or accept their fault. It is the biggest crime to commit in the world’s biggest democracy."

Claiming that the Election Commission is not neutral, Thackeray told CNN-News18, "EC has stolen our party name, bow and arrow and given it to 'Feknath Minde' (Eknath Shinde). How can EC be neutral today? We have a problem with fake voters and malpractices getting shielded by EC."

#CNNNews18Townhall | EC has stolen our party name, bow and arrow and given it to 'Feknath Minde'. How can EC be neutral today? We have a problem with fake voters and malpractices getting shielded by EC: @AUThackeray, Shiv Sena UBT#VoteTheft | @Zakka_Jacob pic.twitter.com/PIzpY3pwYx

Related stories

• 
  Disha Salian’s father demands FIR and Narco Test on Aaditya Thackeray
• 
  Disha Salian death case reopened: FIR filed against Aaditya Thackeray, Rhea Chakraborty, Dino Morea ...

— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 13, 2025

Backing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claims of 'vote theft', former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's son alleged that “vote chori" had indeed taken place, accusing the poll body of compromising the integrity of elections over the past several years.

“For the last 7–8 years, the EC has prevented free and fair elections in India," he claimed, arguing that the institution’s credibility was at stake.

Further training guns at the ruling party, Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the irregularities by the EC were were benefiting one political party in particular. “Extra voters and fake votes are going to BJP," he charged.