The Election Commission dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of fake voters in Haryana as baseless, stating no formal objections were filed by Congress during the revision process.
Election Commission of India (EC) Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s Voter-List Claims in Haryana
New Delhi – The Election Commission of India has dismissed recent allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that there were large-scale irregularities in the voter rolls of Haryana during the 2024 assembly polls. According to the EC, the claims lack any official backing and were made without filing any formal appeals or objections. (www.ndtv.com)
What Gandhi Claimed
- Rahul Gandhi asserted that up to 25 lakh fake or duplicate votes were included in Haryana’s voter list, making up roughly one in every eight voters. (The Times of India)
- He presented what he described as “H-Files”, alleging examples such as a foreign model’s photo appearing multiple times under different names on voter IDs. (India Today)
- He claimed that the alleged fraud helped the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government convert a projected Congress win into a BJP victory. (The Times of India)
What the Election Commission Says
- The EC says that no appeals or objections were filed by the Congress party or its agents during the official voter-list revision or after the polls in Haryana. (The Economic Times)
- EC officials questioned why, if such massive irregularities existed, the Congress did not raise formal objections at the “claims and objections” stage of the revision process. (www.ndtv.com)
- The EC has labelled the claims as “baseless” and insisted that proper procedures must be followed for any challenge to the rolls. (Wikipedia)
Why This Matters
- Haryana’s voter lists matter because revision of electoral rolls is central to fair elections and ensuring that only eligible voters vote.
- These allegations and the EC’s response occur while India prepares for other key state elections and are seen as having broader implications for trust in the electoral process.
- For voters, emerging doubts—if not clarified—may weaken confidence in the democratic system.
What Happens Next
- Rahul Gandhi and the Congress may file formal petitions or legal challenges if they believe evidence supports their claims.
- The EC may initiate its own review to check the validity of the claims or reinforce transparency in future voter‐list revisions.
- Stakeholders—including other political parties, civil society and election observers—will watch how the EC handles this matter ahead of upcoming polls in other states.
What It Means for You
If you are a voter in Haryana (or any Indian state):
- Know that the voter list revision process is ongoing and you have the right to check your name and file objections if needed.
- Stay alert to announcements from the EC or your state election office about the “claims and objections” phase.
- Trust but verify: Claims of irregularities should be backed by data and proper legal procedure—not just media statements.
Final Thought
The EC’s firm rejection of Rahul Gandhi’s allegations sends a clear message: without documented appeals or objections during the revision process, large claims about fake or duplicate voters will be hard to validate. As Indian democracy gears up for more elections, the robustness of voter-list procedures and public confidence in them will be under close scrutiny.