Fadnavis-Says-Rahul-Gandhi’s-‘Brain-Stolen’-Over-Voter-Fraud-Allegations

Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP of Voter Fraud; Fadnavis Dismisses Claims, Calls Them Politically Motivated

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has attacked Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of gross voter manipulation during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Fadnavis dismissed such claims as baseless, saying Gandhi seems to have lost his mind, and added, "I feel that, maybe, he (Gandhi) should get it (brain) checked."

The strongest response follows a string of allegations made by Gandhi against the BJP. In them, he claimed the BJP was tampering with voter data using fake identity cards and deleting the names of certain opposition supporters in electoral rolls. Gandhi also alleged a broader conspiracy with government agencies and the Election Commission at its behest.

Speaking from Nagpur on Wednesday, Fadnavis dismissed the allegations as nothing but an expression of frustration following Congress's dismal election showing. "Rahul Gandhi is making laughable claims. He is disrespecting the democratic process and the voters of India," said the BJP leader.

Fadnavis Slams Rahul’s Voter Fraud Allegations

He solely cited the inability of Congress to muster any concrete evidence to back its charges leveled against BJP officials. "You can't cry foul just because you lost. The elections were held under full supervision of the Election Commission, with lakhs of officials on duty. This is an insult to them, too," he said.

Fadnavis accused Congress of spreading falsehoods in a desperate bid to stay afloat. He said Gandhi was trying to put a seed of doubt in the minds of the citizens and erode the trust in democratic institutions. "He is attacking the credibility of the Election Commission without a shred of evidence. This is dangerous for democracy," said Fadnavis.

The BJP secured a clear majority by bagging 306 seats in the 2024 general elections, while the Congress secured only 61. Under the INDIA coalition, the opposition parties raised red flags over irregular voter lists, especially in urban areas.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “All concerned Indians must see the evidence. Judge for themselves. Demand answers.”

Is Rahul Gandhi Undermining India’s Electoral Integrity?

In response, Devendra Fadnavis sought to question the timing of these statements. He said, "Why raise these issues months after the results had been declared? That shows it is a political stunt." The Election Commission of India has yet to respond to Gandhi's remarks, but it had previously declared that the elections were free and fair.

The officials dismissed earlier complaints of manipulation in the voter list by saying that all complaints were addressed in due course per the established protocol. Political analysts say the war of words will likely increase with the state elections in Maharashtra early next year. The BJP and Congress are already gearing up for a fiercely contested battle, both sides accusing each other of divisive politics and disinformation.  

Meanwhile, BJP leaders all over India have supported Fadnavis's remarks, calling Gandhi's comments ‘irresponsible and misleading.’ As the political temperature rises, voters await an official clarification or an inquiry into whether such an alleged irregularity has ever been investigated. But for now, the war of words continues and will set the stage for yet another fiercely contested election.