Rahul Gandhi Says Top Leaders Face Probe Over Vote Rigging

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will face a formal investigation over alleged interference in the country's electoral process when his party returns to power. Speaking at a media interaction, Gandhi demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and advised him to turn approver, while praising the remaining two election commissioners for recording their dissent. Gandhi alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner was put in place directly by the Prime Minister and asserted that voting has effectively ceased to function properly in the country. He described the situation as an assault on the Indian state and its democratic foundation, adding that citizens cannot remain quiet. Recalling events from past years, he pointed to a December 2023 law granting immunity to election commissioners from legal inquiry, along with earlier party press conferences and rallies focusing on Maharashtra, Mahadevapura, Aland, and Haryana. He noted that while his party had questioned the fairness of polls for three years, dissent from within the election panel itself now validates those claims. He further argued that undermining the ballot destroys the Constitution and renders all national laws and institutions meaningless. Stating that more evidence will come to light within six months, Gandhi maintained that the opposition will actively work to safeguard democratic institutions.