Rahul Gandhi Demands Chief Election Commissioner's Resignation Over Vote Theft Allegations

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Addressing a press meet at the Congress Headquarters in New Delhi, Mr. Gandhi alleged a conspiracy involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding vote theft, stating they will be investigated. His remarks followed a report on dissent within the Election Commission of India. Mr. Gandhi stated that two Election Commissioners started opposing the CEC after the Congress repeatedly raised the vote chori issue following the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections, adding that the CEC should turn approver in the country's interest. He asserted with certainty that the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls were rigged. Recalling a dissent note he gave during Mr. Kumar's appointment in February 2025, Mr. Gandhi said the government junked it. At the start of his address, he played older videos of Mr. Shah predicting the BJP would stay in power for 30 to 50 years and PM Modi predicting the party would win 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, noting that every leader and party has faced anti-incumbency except them. Mr. Gandhi stated that if the vote is destroyed, the Constitution is destroyed, making laws illegal and institutions meaningless. He argued that any laws and institutional changes made in Parliament by MPs elected through a stolen vote are illegal, calling it an attack on the basic infrastructure of every Indian.