Rahul Gandhi claims Lok Sabha polls were rigged

While addressing party leaders at the Congress Annual Legal Conclave 2025, Gandhi alleged that former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was sent to “threaten” him when his party was fighting against the three farm laws, now repealed.

“I remember when I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley ji was sent to me to threaten me. He told me “if you carry on opposing the govt, fighting the farm laws, we will have to act against you”. I looked at him and said ‘I don’t think you have an idea who you are talking to,’” he said.

“Rigged Lok Sabha Polls?” — Rahul Gandhi’s Explosive Claim and Its Fallout

In early August 2025, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, launched one of his most incendiary political claims to date: that the 2024 General Elections—the very foundation of Indian democracy—were rigged. His allegations have ignited a fierce confrontation between the Congress party and India’s election establishment.

The Core Allegation: Rigged Elections and ‘Fake Voters’

At the Congress party’s Annual Legal Conclave on August 2, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls were manipulated. He declared: “The election system in India is already dead” and warned, “If 15 seats were rigged, PM Modi would not have become Prime Minister.”The Times of IndiaThe Indian ExpressThe Economic Times

Central to his claim: Congress internal audits found approximately 1.5 lakh fake voters in a single constituency—drawing from lists totaling 6.5 lakh voters. He described the impending revelation of proof as being “literally like an atom bomb.”India TodayYouTubeThe Times of IndiaThe Indian Express

Further sharpening his argument, Gandhi alleged that in Maharashtra, between the Lok Sabha and subsequent Assembly elections, 1 crore new voters appeared, the majority of whom favored the BJP.India TodayThe Times of India He also claimed broader systemic manipulation, citing up to 100 rigged seats in 2024 to secure Modi’s third term.The Economic Times

Electoral Roll Allegations: The Mahadevapura Case

Adding specificity, Gandhi highlighted discrepancies in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka. His team reportedly unearthed thousands of irregularities:

• Duplicate entries: 11,956

• Invalid addresses: 40,009

• Bulk registrations (including 80 voters listed at one address): 10,452

• Invalid photos: 4,132

• Misuse of Form 6: 33,692Wikipedia

Following Gandhi’s presentation, the Election Commission requested that he either submit a formal sworn affidavit under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules or retract his claims.Wikipedia+1

EC and Government Backlash

The Election Commission swiftly labeled Gandhi’s allegations as “baseless”, “misleading”, and intended to pressure the poll machinery and invalidate the efforts of election officials. It highlighted that Congress had not filed petitions or appeals during rollout of voter rolls.ThePrintReuters

Furthermore, CEC Gyanesh Kumar demanded that Gandhi either back his claims with a sworn affidavit within seven days or offer a national apology—calling any failure to do so an indicator of unfounded accusations.The Economic Times

Political Mobilization and Support

Rahul Gandhi’s campaign escalated with the launch of a ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, drawing attention to voter rights and alleged manipulations. During this tour, he accused the EC of collaborating with BJP’s “vote theft” strategy—specifically citing legal changes that shield Commissioners from scrutiny.The Times of IndiaThe Economic Times

These claims drew political friction both within and outside Congress. In Karnataka, dissent emerged—some Congress leaders criticized the allegations for potentially harming the party’s credibility.The Times of India

However, NCP’s Supriya Sule lent support, labeling the concerns as evidence-based and urging Parliamentary debate. Meanwhile, over 300 opposition MPs staged a protest at the Election Commission’s office, demanding electoral transparency.The Times of IndiaReuters

What Lies Ahead?

The controversy underscores India’s fraught politics and trust deficit. Rahul Gandhi insists he holds incontrovertible evidence—whether that stands up under legal scrutiny remains to be seen.

With deadlines looming and the EC demanding concrete proofs, the nation’s democratic machinery now faces the dual challenge of safeguarding institutional trust and addressing serious allegations that strike at the heart of electoral credibility.

In this high-stakes drama, the path forward hinges on whether conclusive evidence emerges—or whether Gandhi’s claims will be dismissed as politically motivated conjecture.