Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called on India’s Gen Z and students to safeguard democracy and halt what he alleges is widespread “vote theft” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI). Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi accused the ECI of enabling the deletion of 6,018 voter names in Karnataka’s Aland constituency, a Congress stronghold, using fraudulent Form 7 applications. He claimed these actions, targeting Dalit, minority, OBC, and Adivasi voters, were part of a broader scheme involving centralized software and impersonation, with similar patterns in Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Gandhi’s appeal to Gen Z, posted on X, stated: “The youth of the country, the students of the country, the Gen Z of the country will save the Constitution, protect democracy, and stop vote theft. I always stand with them.” He cited evidence like applications processed in 36 seconds and insider leaks from the ECI, alleging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is protecting “vote thieves.” The remarks drew parallels to youth-led protests in Nepal and Bangladesh, prompting accusations from the BJP that Gandhi is inciting unrest.
BJP’s Sharp Rebuttal
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey hit back, asserting that Gen Z opposes dynastic politics, corruption, and ideological ambiguity. In a scathing X post, he wrote, “Gen Z is against nepotism and dynastic rule. Why will they tolerate Rahul after Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, Sonia?” Dubey accused Gandhi of aligning with the Soros Foundation to “divide the nation” and suggested he “prepare to leave the country,” referencing Nepal’s recent government collapse driven by youth protests. BJP leader Anurag Thakur further claimed Gandhi is trying to create “Nepal-like chaos” in India, noting Congress’s loss in 90% of elections under Gandhi’s leadership.
The ECI rejected Gandhi’s claims as baseless, stating that voter deletions require verification by Booth Level Officers, and Aland’s applications were scrutinized, with fraudulent ones rejected in 2023. The BJP called the allegations a distraction from Congress’s internal failures, while CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar urged the ECI to clarify transparently.
Political Context
Gandhi’s focus on Gen Z comes amid his Voter Adhikar Yatra and prior claims of vote manipulation in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The controversy, fueled by the timing of Nepal’s youth-driven political upheaval, has intensified the Congress-BJP slugfest ahead of Bihar’s Assembly elections. Critics argue Gandhi’s dynastic background undermines his appeal to youth, while supporters see his campaign as a bid to energize young voters against alleged electoral fraud.
