Gandhi Accuses BJP of Electoral Misconduct, Media Manipulation

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a campaign rally in Banka, Bihar on Sunday, alleging widespread electoral fraud and accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of complicity in electoral manipulation.

Speaking to a large gathering of supporters, Gandhi claimed that BJP leaders who had already cast their votes in Delhi also participated in the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections, suggesting a pattern of double voting that would constitute a serious violation of India’s electoral laws.

“We have evidence of BJP leaders voting twice – once in Delhi and again in Bihar’s first phase. This is a direct attack on our democratic process,” Gandhi told the crowd, though he did not immediately provide specific evidence to support the allegation.

The Congress leader further intensified his accusations by claiming that similar electoral irregularities occurred during last year’s Haryana assembly elections. According to Gandhi, the party uncovered approximately 25 lakh fake entries in voter lists, which he alleged were part of a coordinated effort between the BJP and the Election Commission to manipulate election outcomes.

“In Haryana, we discovered 25 lakh fake names on voter rolls. When we approached the Election Commission with evidence, they simply ignored our concerns,” Gandhi stated, suggesting institutional bias in favor of the ruling party.

The allegations come at a critical juncture in Bihar’s multi-phase election, which is seen as a crucial test for both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc. Electoral integrity has emerged as a contentious issue in recent Indian elections, with opposition parties frequently questioning the impartiality of the Election Commission.

During his address, Gandhi also criticized what he characterized as the government’s strategy of distracting voters through social media campaigns while pursuing policies that favor corporate interests over those of farmers and working-class citizens.

“While they flood your social media feeds with carefully crafted narratives, the NDA government continues to write off massive loans for their corporate friends while ignoring the plight of farmers drowning in debt,” Gandhi claimed, touching on the sensitive issue of agrarian distress that continues to resonate in Bihar, where agriculture remains a primary economic activity.

The Congress leader further alleged media manipulation by the current administration, claiming that television channels are being financially incentivized to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image while suppressing critical voices.

“They’re paying TV channels crores of rupees to show the Prime Minister’s face constantly. This isn’t news – it’s paid propaganda,” Gandhi said, echoing concerns about media independence that have been raised by press freedom watchdogs in recent years.

The BJP has not yet issued a formal response to Gandhi’s specific allegations of electoral fraud, though party representatives have previously dismissed similar claims as baseless attempts to undermine public confidence in India’s electoral system.

Political analysts note that such accusations reflect the increasingly polarized nature of Indian politics, particularly as the country approaches the halfway mark of Modi’s third term in office. Bihar’s election results will be closely watched as a potential indicator of shifting political winds ahead of upcoming state elections in Maharashtra and elsewhere.

The Election Commission, which prides itself on maintaining India’s status as the world’s largest functioning democracy, has repeatedly defended its independence and integrity against similar allegations in the past. The Commission has established protocols for addressing electoral complaints, though opposition parties frequently question the effectiveness and impartiality of these mechanisms.

As Bihar continues its phased voting process, both alliances are intensifying their campaigning efforts across the state’s 243 assembly constituencies, with electoral integrity and economic concerns emerging as dominant themes in the political discourse.