Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, 24 September 2026, launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre at a press conference in New Delhi, demanding the CEC's immediate resignation and suggesting he turn 'approver' in what Gandhi alleged was a systematic 'stealing' of votes.

The remarks come a day after a media report claimed internal differences within the poll panel over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and related issues — a report the Election Commission of India (ECI) has since rejected.

Gandhi's Core Allegations

Addressing reporters, Gandhi questioned the 'absence of anti-incumbency' against the BJP in recent elections, calling it a 'fundamental' anomaly. He argued that anti-incumbency is a universal political force, citing the example of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who faced electoral consequences within one to two years of leading India to victory in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

'Despite prevailing anti-incumbency for years, it suddenly disappears from Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,' Gandhi said, framing it as evidence of deeper structural manipulation. He reiterated his previous allegation that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and several subsequent Assembly polls had been rigged, claims that the BJP has consistently denied.

Attack on the CEC and the Legal Framework

Gandhi alleged that action was not taken on letters sent by two Election Commissioners because, in his words, 'Gyanesh Kumar was being protected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and others.' He directly addressed the CEC: 'What you have done amounts to treason. It is an attack on the Constitution and the legal structure of the country...you were supposed to ensure that the vote is protected.'

The LoP also referenced a law passed on 21 December 2023 that, he claimed, makes the Election Commissioner immune to investigations. He linked this to the Congress party's earlier 'vote chori' (vote theft) campaign and the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'. Gandhi argued that if votes are stolen, any legislation passed by parliamentarians elected on such votes becomes 'illegal'.

Call for Kumar to Turn Approver

Gandhi stopped short of ruling out future accountability, advising Gyanesh Kumar to turn 'approver' — a legal designation for an accused who cooperates with investigators in exchange for leniency — saying it 'would be an act of nationalism.' He appreciated the two Election Commissioners who, he claimed, had 'done a wise thing by coming clean.'

'The Prime Minister and Home Minister are undoubtedly going to be investigated for what they have done,' Gandhi asserted. 'A person who attacks votes and fundamentally destroys India's democratic institution is an anti-national, nothing else.'

Context and Background

This is not the first time Gandhi has raised concerns about electoral integrity. The Congress has repeatedly alleged manipulation in key state elections and pressed for reform of the process by which Election Commissioners are appointed. The Supreme Court had in 2023 intervened in the appointment process, and the subsequent December 2023 law has remained a flashpoint between the Opposition and the Centre.

Notably, the ECI's categorical rejection of the media report that triggered Thursday's press conference means the competing narratives remain unresolved. As Bihar and other state elections loom, the Opposition's pressure on the poll panel is unlikely to ease.