Why is Rahul Gandhi Blaming the Election Commission?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP defends electoral integrity amid allegations
- Rahul Gandhi claims proof of electoral fraud
- Election Commission assures transparent processes
- Political tensions escalate in Karnataka
- Future implications for Congress party credibility
Bengaluru, July 25 (NationPress) In response to Rahul Gandhi's accusations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and his assertions of possessing solid evidence of electoral fraud in a Karnataka constituency, the state BJP has remarked that the Congress leader's unwillingness to acknowledge his electoral loss is now spiraling into unfounded conspiracy theories.
The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, stated on Friday, "The Lok Sabha results in Karnataka represent a clear mandate supporting the NDA and a strong repudiation of the failures of the Congress-led Karnataka government. Instead of engaging in self-reflection, Rahul Gandhi is directing blame towards the Election Commission to cover up his party's downfall, while CM Siddaramaiah is backing this narrative, not to uphold democracy but to protect himself from internal dissent and maintain his position."
Ashoka emphasized that the addition and removal of voter names is a transparent procedure carried out in the presence of representatives from all political factions.
If there are any genuine grievances, they should have been presented with evidence to the Election Commission or courts, rather than transformed into political theatrics post-defeat, he pointed out.
The BJP's triumph is a reflection of public trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not a fabrication of an imaginary “vote theft” narrative propagated by the Congress, he asserted.
"If Rahul Gandhi claims to have proof, what is preventing him from taking legal action? Why the delay?" Ashoka challenged.
"This is merely a classic instance of the Congress party's political insolvency, blaming everyone but themselves for their misfortunes," he emphasized.
"The Karnataka BJP vehemently condemns this effort to undermine public trust in democratic institutions simply because the results were not in their favor," Ashoka charged.
Rahul Gandhi had previously stated, "The Election Commission is failing to function as the Election Commission of India. The reality is that the Election Commission is neglecting its duties. We now possess concrete, irrefutable evidence of the Election Commission facilitating cheating in a Karnataka seat."
In response to the claims made by Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has dismissed the allegations, affirming that electoral rolls were compiled transparently and shared with recognized political entities.
The statement further noted, "As previously communicated by the Election Commission of India, electoral rolls were distributed to all recognized political parties. During the Special Summary Revision-2024, conducted ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections, copies of both draft and final electoral rolls for all 224 Assembly constituencies were provided to representatives of all registered and recognized political parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC)."
Supporting Rahul Gandhi's claims, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted on Thursday that the Congress party's defeat in the parliamentary elections was due to the BJP's manipulation of the Election Commission.
In his press release, CM Siddaramaiah remarked, "The recent Lok Sabha election outcomes in Karnataka not only caught us off guard but also raised numerous questions. It is increasingly evident that the primary cause of the Congress party's defeat in that election was the BJP's exploitation of the Election Commission to execute irregularities."