BJP Asserts Sonia Gandhi Was Part of the Voter List Before Prior to Indian Citizenship

Citizenship Controversy Blast: BJP Reveals Sonia Gandhi's 1980 voter registration before granting Indian Citizenship.

The Indian National Congress’s electoral roll allegations were answered swiftly by the BJP.On August 13, 2025, the BJP delivered a political bombshell that rocked India by producing Sonia Gandhi's voting records from 45 years ago, reflecting that she had been listed in the voter rolls as an Italian citizen in 1980.  

The documents, which BJP IT cell Chief Amit Malviya shared via a copy of the 1980 voter list, have brought back the fiery debate around electoral malpractice and Congress's inadequate support for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.

The Smoking Gun: 1980 Voter Roll Documented Sonia’s Name

BJP's evidence is that there was a 1980 roll of New Delhi voters fraud where Congress firm president Sonia Gandhi was noted at polling place 145 at Safdarjung Road next to Indira, Rajiv and Sanjay Gandhi in the electoral roll, 3 years before she obtained Indian citizenship in April 1983. 

Malviya said that prima facie, it could be an offence under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which specifies that you must be registered as an Indian citizen to vote.

1980 Electoral Poll shared by Amit Malviya (source: Indiatoday.in) 

Key Facts:

• 1980 Entry: As No. 388 in the January 1980 revisions.  
• 1983 Re-entry: Her name reappeared on the rolls several months before her citizenship was approved.  
• The Congress Defense: The party leader, Tariq Anwar, quickly shifted responsibility to the Election Commission, as Sonia never requested enrollment.  
  
  

Tit-for-Tat: BJP rejoinder to Rahul's 'Vote Chori' allegations

The attack was a few days after, when Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP party and ECI for identifying and then creating "1 crore mystery voters" in Maharashtra and Karnataka during the 2024 polls. BJP MP Anurag Thakur counterattacked, using the impairment of Congress-held seats like Rae Bareli and Diamond Harbour, a "history of electoral fraud" with the party going back to Dr. Ambedkar's defeat in 1952.

Political Context:

• SIR Protests: Congress claims that Bihar's effort to revise its voter roll is yet another attempt by the BJP to disenfranchise marginalized minorities.  
• ECI's Position: ECI has asked Rahul to offer proof of misconduct using affidavits. 
  
  

Legal and Ethical Uncertainty

Legal professionals are still in the process of deciding if Sonia's initial registration in 1980 was a clerical error or a fraudulent act. The BJP says it demonstrates an ongoing sense of entitlement, claiming she waited *15 years following her marriage to become an Indian citizen. However, critics of the timing, just weeks before the Bihar elections, suggested it was a smokescreen.  

Contradictions:

• 1982 Deletion: Sonia's registration was deleted from the roll after a public outcry, but was restored sometime in 1983, under uncertain terms.  
• Citizenship Date: Her citizenship was granted on April 30, 1983, with the roll count for registered voters used on January 1.
  
  

Is There Any Public and Political Reaction? 

Public reaction has erupted on social media, with #SoniaVoterFraud trending. Therefore, while BJP supporters have demanded "justice" and accountability, Congress supporters have responded with "How is this old news still trending again?" as a deflection from the danger of the current situation.  

Past as Politics: Sonia Gandhi Under BJP's Spotlight

The BJP exposed Sonia Gandhi's history on the electoral battlefield of 2025, muddying accountability and a long tradition of looking backwards to define an opponent's future and political op perspective. In the climate of blame, both sides could be affected by the Election Commission of India (ECI) response that governs the actions of parties that conditionally elevate or circumvent legal prosecution.