Congress on Saturday, 26 September invoked Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's earlier 'vote chori' allegations against the BJP-led Centre, a day after three National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies — LJP (Ram Vilas), Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) — formally asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to address reported differences within the poll body over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Background: NDA Allies Demand ECI Clarity

On Friday, 25 September, Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan, Rajya Sabha MP and RLM chief Upendra Kushwawa, and TDP MP Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu jointly urged the ECI to dispel what they described as 'confusion' among citizens regarding the SIR process. The move was notable given that all three represent parties currently in alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Congress: Gandhi Was First to Sound the Alarm

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said the development validated Rahul Gandhi's sustained campaign on the issue. 'Our leader Rahul Gandhi has been constantly speaking over the issue and has even presented facts. Today, those allegations are coming out to be true,' he said.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Vice-President V Gurunadham echoed the point, noting that Gandhi had raised concerns about the SIR process roughly a year earlier. He also pushed back on Chirag Paswan's remark that he was not particularly concerned about allegations raised by opposition figures such as Rahul Gandhi. 'Around a year back Rahul Gandhi had already said that vote theft is taking place at the behest of the BJP-led government, by the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi was the one who brought the issue at the forefront... Chirag Paswan is also in the same school like that of the BJP,' Gurunadham said.

Shrinate: 'ECI Caught With Hand in the Cookie Jar'

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate issued a sharper warning, framing the electoral rolls row as a direct threat to citizens' franchise. 'The right to vote gives us the power to elect our government or to dislodge them if they don't work in favour of the people. That right is under attack, and which is why the laws that are being made after vote theft are all illegal, it's all unauthorised,' she said.

She also addressed NDA partners directly: 'The reality is that the Election Commission has been caught with its hand in the cookie jar as far as vote theft is concerned. If you are an NDA ally, you need to wake up to the reality... If you don't act today, you will face the might of the Indian law as well as the Indian people very soon,' she stated.

AAP's Reading: Alliance Bargaining, Not Principle

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh offered a more cynical interpretation, arguing that the NDA allies' move was driven by internal coalition dynamics rather than a genuine concern for electoral integrity. 'Their concern is that their bargaining power within the NDA may be affected, and they may be denied ministerial positions or other benefits. That is why everyone is concerned that elections in the country should be conducted fairly,' he said.

This comes amid a broader political battle over the ECI's SIR exercise, which the opposition has characterised as a mechanism for voter roll manipulation, and which the poll body has defended as a routine enumeration process. The ECI had not issued a formal response to the allies' clarification request as of Saturday. How the Commission responds — and whether NDA partners escalate their demands — will shape the political temperature heading into upcoming state elections.