Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday levelled serious allegations of electoral fraud in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, asserting that the polls were “stolen” through manipulation of voter lists. He claimed that over 25 lakh entries in the state’s electoral rolls were “fake,” and alleged that the Election Commission acted in collusion with the BJP to ensure the party’s victory.
Addressing a press conference at Indira Bhawan, Gandhi described what he termed “Operation Sarkar Chori”, alleging that a systematic conspiracy was carried out to reverse what he said would have been a clear win for the Congress. According to him, the data examined by the Congress revealed 25,41,144 questionable voter entries, including duplicate voters registered in multiple constituencies, voters listed at non-existent or invalid addresses, and clusters of bulk entries registered under single or fabricated house numbers.
“We are questioning the Election Commission and the democratic process of this country. And we are doing so with complete proof,” Gandhi asserted, adding that the irregularities were not isolated, but part of a wider pattern seen earlier in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.
The Congress leader alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the other two Election Commissioners acted in coordination with the ruling party. “They are in partnership. They worked hand in hand with the BJP and the Prime Minister. The mandate of the people of Haryana was converted into a loss through manipulation,” he claimed.
Referring to electoral roll anomalies, Gandhi dismissed the Election Commission’s explanation regarding the use of “house number zero” for homeless individuals. He accused the CEC of “misleading the public,” alleging that these entries were used to inflate voter counts and allocate votes strategically.
Gandhi said that Congress candidates and grassroots workers had repeatedly reported “unusual patterns” during voting and counting phases, which prompted the party to conduct a detailed constituency-level audit of the rolls. The findings, he said, indicated a statewide operation rather than sporadic mismanagement.
“This is not merely a technical error or administrative lapse. This is the theft of a state’s democratic mandate,” he said.
Gandhi also suggested that similar scrutiny may be extended to electoral rolls in other states, indicating that the party views this as part of a larger national issue concerning election integrity and institutional neutrality.
The Election Commission has not yet issued a detailed response to Gandhi’s allegations. The BJP, meanwhile, has dismissed the accusations as “political theatrics,” accusing the Congress of attempting to challenge the verdict of the people.
As the debate escalates, the issue raises critical questions about transparency, electoral safeguards, and public trust in India’s democratic institutions—at a time when political contestation across states continues to intensify.
