Is Congress MP Amar Singh Accusing AAP of Vote Fraud in Punjab By-Elections?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Amar Singh's accusations against AAP raise questions about electoral integrity.
- Concerns regarding vote theft are central to Singh's statements.
- Congress plans to investigate alleged irregularities in the Punjab bypolls.
- Support from the INDIA bloc for Rahul Gandhi's claims is evident.
- Leadership decisions for upcoming elections will be made by Congress' top leadership.
New Delhi, Aug 12 (NationPress) Congress MP Amar Singh on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party of employing various strategies to secure victory in the Ludhiana and Jalandhar bypolls in Punjab, indicating that vote manipulation may have occurred.
In an interview with IANS, Amar Singh stated, "The AAP has resorted to all possible measures to triumph in these elections. They have utilized multiple tactics. There is a possibility of vote theft, especially since they hold the government there. They distributed scooters, household items, and refrigerators -- I have never witnessed an election like this. The police were allegedly used to intimidate citizens, and bribery was reported. They claim to represent 'common people' -- I am curious about the source of their funding."
His comments followed an assertion by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a protest rally in Bengaluru last Friday, where he alleged that the Election Commission had colluded with the BJP to permit over one lakh bogus votes in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, which he claimed aided the BJP in winning the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat last year.
When questioned if Arvind Kejriwal's government formation in 2022 was a result of vote theft, Singh remarked, "I won’t comment on the 2022 elections, but in the Ludhiana and Jalandhar bypolls, they did everything possible, considering they are in power there."
On whether the Congress would investigate the alleged discrepancies in the Punjab bypolls if elected, Singh affirmed, "Yes, we certainly will."
He further addressed queries regarding the support of INDIA bloc allies for Rahul Gandhi’s allegations concerning fake voter lists.
"Yes, they stand united with him. When he conducted a press conference, he also engaged with the INDIA bloc leaders later that evening. Everyone concurred with his apprehensions," Singh noted.
When asked if Rahul Gandhi is the genuine leader of the INDIA bloc, he responded, "Yes, he is the Leader of the Opposition. Congress is the most significant party."
Concerning whether the upcoming elections should be contested under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, Singh said, "That decision rests with the top leadership. We will deliberate on it when the time arrives."