Fresh Audit Announcement
In a sharp escalation of its “vote chori” allegations, the Congress party announced plans for a comprehensive audit of the 2019 Lok Sabha voters’ list. Speaking in Alappuzha, Kerala, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal claimed there were serious irregularities that could have altered the election outcome.
Allegations of Close-Call Constituencies
Venugopal alleged that in 48 parliamentary constituencies, candidates from parties now part of the INDIA bloc lost by margins under 50,000 votes. He stated the Congress would conduct extensive verification of electoral rolls in these seats to expose potential voter fraud.
Attack on PM Modi’s Mandate
The Congress leader also asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not assume office with a genuine mandate, citing evidence presented by Rahul Gandhi in a recent press conference. According to Venugopal, Gandhi’s revelations point to a “huge criminal fraud” involving collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission (EC).
Rahul Gandhi’s Claims and EC’s Response
Rahul Gandhi claimed his party had identified fraudulent practices during a detailed analysis of a Karnataka assembly constituency. The EC rejected these allegations and asked Gandhi to provide a formal oath to initiate a probe. Gandhi refused, stating he had already sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of India.
Political Battle Intensifies
Venugopal warned the EC against attempting to intimidate opposition leaders and said a thorough investigation could force PM Modi to resign. The announcement signals an intensified political battle ahead of the next general election, with electoral transparency becoming a major flashpoint.
