Rahul Gandhi targets BJP and Election Commission over SIR, alleges ‘vote chori’ pattern

Opposition sharpens attack on electoral roll revision

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has launched a public attack on the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being used not as a neutral administrative exercise but as a political tool. He argued that the revision threatens the core democratic principle of “one person, one vote” by enabling removals that could influence outcomes.

Claims of targeted deletions and a repeatable ‘blueprint’

In his remarks, Gandhi alleged that voters are being “selectively removed” from specific communities and booths that are perceived to favour the opposition. He also claimed the same pattern has appeared in multiple places and is now being replicated across states where SIR is being undertaken, framing it as an organised and strategic approach rather than isolated errors.

Congress allegations in Gujarat cited as a flashpoint

The criticism comes amid Congress claims of manipulation linked to the SIR process in Gujarat, including questions around the timing and volume of objections submitted during the revision window and the transparency of information sought by the opposition. The episode has added fuel to a broader political argument: whether the roll-cleaning exercise is improving voter list accuracy or being used to reshape the electorate.

What this means for the wider political climate

The dispute underscores rising mistrust around election administration, with the opposition portraying the ECI as compromised and the ruling side insisting on procedural legitimacy. In practice, controversies around roll revisions can intensify scrutiny on local implementation—how deletions are validated, how objections are handled, and what audit trails exist—because even small shifts in high-stakes constituencies can become politically explosive.