Rahul Gandhi Accuses Election Commission of “Vote Theft” in Bihar, Warns of Action if INDIA Bloc Wins

New Delhi: In yet another explosive attack on the Election Commission of India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the poll body of orchestrating “vote theft” in Bihar through the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing a public gathering during his Voter Adhikar Yatra in Gaya, Gandhi warned the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the two other commissioners that the INDIA bloc would hold them accountable once it comes to power in Bihar and at the Centre.

“The Election Commission’s theft has been caught. Right now, you are working for Narendra Modi, but the day INDIA alliance forms the government, strict action will be taken against all three of you,” Gandhi thundered, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. He compared the SIR process to a “special package for Bihar,” claiming it was nothing but a systematic attempt to delete voters opposed to the BJP.

The remarks came just a day after CEC Gyanesh Kumar issued a seven-day ultimatum, asking Gandhi to either provide a signed affidavit with evidence of his allegations or withdraw them as baseless. Kumar had also publicly warned that Gandhi must either apologise or substantiate his charges in line with election rules.

Defiant, Gandhi shot back: “Give us some time, we will catch your theft in every assembly and Lok Sabha seat and put it before the people. The whole country will demand an affidavit from you.” He stressed that “vote chori” was an attack on the Constitution and promised that Bihar would set an example by resisting it.

Adding to the controversy, the Bihar Election Commission has formally asked Gandhi to provide detailed information about allegedly deleted voters, including their Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, so that proper investigation can be carried out. The Commission noted that September 1, 2025, is the final date for raising objections and that claims can be filed by any booth-level agent in the prescribed format.

The row escalated after Gandhi shared a video on X, in which he, along with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, listened to voters in Aurangabad who claimed their names were unfairly struck off the rolls. The video, which quickly went viral, has intensified scrutiny of the SIR process and the transparency of electoral practices in Bihar.