BJP hits back at Cong for charges against EC, highlights its record of poll irregularities

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) The BJP today strongly rebutted allegations made by leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi against the Election Commission (ECI) and its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar, calling it a frustrated attempt in the face of his party’s consecutive electoral setbacks in the recent years.

Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of repeatedly undermining democratic institutions through baseless claims and said it was the Congress that has a history of electoral manipulations.

The BJP leader sought to cite historical precedents, stating that “from Sardar Patel to Dr B.R. Ambedkar, history bears testimony to Congress’ attempts at election manipulation for political gains dating back to India’s first general election in 1952.”

Thakur highlighted the defeat of Dr Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, in the 1952 elections as a telling example of Congress’s electoral malpractices. “In that election, Congress, in alliance with the CPI, ensured that Dr Ambedkar lost by a narrow margin of just 14,561 votes, while over 74,000 votes were rejected. This laid the foundation for electoral corruption in the country,” he remarked.

He further recalled instances where Congress indulged in booth capturing in 1957 and rigging with the National Conference in 1987. “Indira Gandhi once disparaged voters as a “bunch of fools” after suffering electoral defeat, and Rajiv Gandhi famously blamed ballot papers. “Today, Rahul Gandhi demands the return of those same ballot papers,” Thakur added.

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s recent accusations of ‘vote theft’ during the Maharashtra elections and alleged irregularities during the Bihar SIR process, Thakur dismissed the claims as “misleading and baseless.” He emphasized that the Election Commission has conducted the revision process transparently and maintained public engagement throughout, with no credible complaints reported.

“The Congress has lost elections 90 times under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership and has resorted to excuses each time. Now, fearing another defeat in Bihar, they are resorting to falsehoods to discredit the Election Commission,” he asserted.

Thakur urged the Congress to respect the democratic process and the voters of India instead of spreading misinformation that threatens the credibility of key institutions.

 

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