Is Rahul Gandhi Undermining Public Trust in the Nation?

New Delhi, Aug 2 (NationPress) Leaders from the BJP and JD(U) have vehemently criticized the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, following his comments regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI).

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhim Singh Chandravanshi condemned LoP Gandhi's statements as detrimental to democratic institutions.

“As the Leader of the Opposition and a senior figure in a major political party, it is incredibly unfortunate and objectionable for him to attack a constitutional body like the Election Commission. Undermining public trust in such institutions is tantamount to an act against the nation,” Chandravanshi commented.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam ridiculed LoP Gandhi’s theatrical language, suggesting he was merely seeking attention without any real basis.

“If he genuinely possesses substantial evidence or, as he claims, an 'atom bomb', is he just keeping it at home as a toy? If he lacks confidence in the Election Commission, he should present it to the judiciary,” he remarked, noting that previous accusations had been thoroughly addressed by the Commission.

JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar also criticized LoP Gandhi's inflammatory rhetoric, urging caution in political discourse.

“In politics, we strategize, not launch atomic bombs. Rahul Gandhi must temper his language. Political discourse should be grounded in facts and evidence,” he stated, while also seeking clarity on whether the Congress supported ally Tejashwi Yadav's proposal for a potential election boycott.

Earlier, the LoP claimed he had 'open and shut proof' of the ECI's involvement in vote manipulation when discussing the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the upcoming Bihar elections.

During the annual Legal Conclave titled 'Constitutional Challenges – Perspectives & Pathways', LoP Gandhi asserted that the Congress party had obtained “conclusive evidence” of voter list manipulation and widespread electoral malpractice.

“My allies would often remark, 'yes, we can see that cheating has occurred. But we don’t have proof.' Now, I confidently state that we possess that proof,” he declared.

LoP Gandhi detailed that his party had conducted a six-month investigation into physical, booth-wise voter lists provided by the Election Commission. He alleged that the documents had been intentionally rendered unscannable and uncopyable.

He mentioned that his team manually compared over six-and-a-half lakh voter photographs and names, discovering that one-and-a-half lakh were fraudulent.

“We meticulously examined photograph by photograph, name by name, of six and a half lakh entries. I’m proud of the Congress Party's efforts,” he said.

LoP Gandhi voiced his long-held doubts regarding election integrity, especially after the unexpected defeat of Congress and its allies in Maharashtra following a decisive Lok Sabha victory.

“Three formidable parties vanished suddenly. I thought, this cannot be. That’s when we began a serious investigation into electoral malpractice,” he explained.

Despite initial signs of irregularities in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, it was only in recent months that his party gathered substantial documentation. “This is treason, nothing less than that. And we will find you,” he warned those allegedly involved in compromising the democratic process.

In response, the ECI dismissed LoP Gandhi’s claims as “baseless and irresponsible”, advising its officials to disregard politically charged statements that threaten institutional credibility.