New Delhi, Sep 18 (NationPress) The BJP and JD(U) strongly countered the recent claims made by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of manipulating votes from Congress-friendly polling stations through fraudulent logins and a 'centralized system.'

BJP officials dismissed these allegations as unfounded and politically driven. They asserted that Gandhi's statements were aimed at discrediting the democratic mandate bestowed by the electorate.

BJP spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain remarked, 'They promised to unleash 'hydrogen bombs,' but all that comes forth are damp squibs. When will this alleged bomb detonate? This is merely an excuse to blame the Election Commission for their forthcoming defeat. They have a history of attacking institutions when the situation turns unfavorable for them.'

Hussain also indicated that Congress leaders are attempting to distract from the implementation of the SIR (Systematic Identification and Removal) initiative, which involves addressing duplicate voter IDs and removing infiltrators or those who have changed residences from electoral rolls.

BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi criticized Gandhi, stating, 'He carries imaginary hydrogen bombs, believing they will destabilize democracy. However, India's democracy is too robust for such antics. The Congress, a party that ruled for five decades, is now insulting the people's verdict while questioning the Election Commission.'

Naqvi added, 'Rather than encouraging voter turnout, they are casting doubt. This is the first instance of a national party openly disheartening voter engagement. When they lose, they scream 'vote theft.' This is not dissent; it is an attack on democracy.'

JD(U) senior figure K.C. Tyagi also dismissed the 'vote theft' narrative, stating, 'I do not subscribe to this 'Vote Chori' tale. If votes were stolen, how did Congress triumph in Himachal, Kerala, and Karnataka? How does Mamata Didi keep winning? These are simply convenient justifications. The ECI must respond transparently, but unfounded accusations against constitutional bodies are unacceptable,' he told IANS.

In response, the ECI refuted Rahul Gandhi's assertions regarding mass voter deletions in Karnataka's Aland Assembly constituency as 'baseless and incorrect.'

The ECI challenged Gandhi's comprehension of the electoral process, asserting that his claims about vote deletions via any 'online tool' are merely misconceptions.

Earlier, in a special press conference, Gandhi alleged mass deletions of votes, especially in Congress strongholds, facilitated by fake logins and phone numbers from outside the state. He accused the process of being 'systematic and organized,' claiming that 6,018 votes were deleted in Karnataka's Aland constituency.

In quick response, the ECI stated that no public member can delete votes, and the process cannot be conducted online, as 'misconceived by Shri Rahul Gandhi.' The ECI emphasized, 'No deletion can occur without giving the affected person the opportunity to be heard.'

The poll panel also revealed that in 2023, there were failed attempts to delete electors in the Aland Assembly constituency, leading to an FIR filed by the ECI to investigate the matter.