BJP Counters Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Fraud’ Charge in Haryana; Kiren Rijiju Calls It “Politically Motivated Drama”

Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a sharp counterattack against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after he accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP to rig the Haryana Assembly elections 2025.

Speaking at a press briefing in New Delhi, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed Gandhi’s allegations of widespread voter fraud, calling them “baseless, misleading, and politically motivated.” He said the Congress leader was attempting to “divert public attention” ahead of the first phase of polling in Bihar.

“Rahul Gandhi addressed the media to hide his failures. Bihar goes to polls tomorrow, yet he was busy narrating stories about Haryana. This shows Congress has lost ground in Bihar and is using diversionary tactics,” Rijiju said.

He further advised Gandhi to behave more responsibly, remarking, “As the Leader of Opposition, he should focus on national issues instead of wasting time on irrelevant claims.”

Responding to Gandhi’s claim that a Brazilian model’s photo was allegedly used multiple times under different names in the Haryana voter list, Rijiju ridiculed the assertion, saying, “Rahul Gandhi collects random information from abroad and tries to apply it in India. This is nothing but a politically motivated drama.”

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had accused the BJP and the Election Commission of “systemic voter manipulation” in Haryana, alleging that 25 lakh fake votes—nearly 12 per cent of the total electorate—were used to swing the results. His remarks sparked intense debate across the political spectrum, with the BJP dismissing them as another “false narrative” designed to discredit democratic institutions.

Rijiju reiterated that the Election Commission operates independently and said such accusations only “weaken public trust in India’s democratic framework.” He urged the Congress to stop spreading misinformation and accept electoral verdicts with humility.