Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s claims of “vote chori” during the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, which the Congress leader alleges involved manipulation of the voter list with approximately 25 lakh fake votes. CM Saini in a statement to media said, ‘Rahul Gandhi is doing the work of misleading the nation.’
Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of India (ECI), the BJP, and senior government officials of collusion to rig the elections.
This political dispute has sparked a heated debate as the country approaches crucial Bihar Assembly elections. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also discredited Gandhi’s allegations as unfounded and misleading, intensifying the confrontation between political parties.
Allegations and Evidence Presented by Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi unveiled what he termed the “H Files,” presenting detailed data and examples to back his claim that the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections were stolen through systematic voter list manipulation. He alleged 5.21 lakh duplicate voters, 93,174 invalid voters, and 19.26 lakh bulk voters, amounting to 25 lakh fake votes out of the two crore electorate.
Gandhi highlighted extreme instances, including a woman listed 223 times across multiple polling booths and a Brazilian model whose stock photograph was used 22 times under different voter names in Haryana’s Rai Assembly constituency. Citing such examples, he accused the Election Commission, especially Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and two other commissioners, of colluding with the BJP to facilitate this electoral fraud. Additionally, Gandhi alleged that 3.5 lakh voters, mostly Congress supporters, were deleted from the electoral rolls just before the elections.
He also raised concerns about irregularities in postal votes and accused the BJP of systemic vote theft designed to deny Congress a rightful victory. Gandhi urged India’s youth, particularly Gen Z, to recognise the threats to democracy and battle for electoral integrity through truth and non-violence.
Official Rebuttals and ECI’s Position
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini rebutted the allegations, labelling them baseless and aimed at destabilising the elected government. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju aligned with Saini, dismissing the claims as misleading and unsupported by facts. The Election Commission, while refraining from detailed public commentary on Gandhi’s data, maintained that voter rolls undergo regular updates and verification processes to uphold election integrity.
In response to specific accusations, the ECI denied tampering with voter lists or destroying polling booth CCTV footage. They affirmed their commitment to a fair electoral process, emphasising that allegations without verified evidence could erode public trust.
Adding to the controversy, the Brazilian model whose photo was misused expressed shock and clarified she had no connection with any Indian elections. She described the unauthorized use of her image as “horrible,” underscoring the misuse of her identity in voter rolls.
2004 के चुनाव के दौरान भी एग्जिट पोल और ओपिनियन पोल भाजपा और एनडीए को जिता रहे थे, लेकिन मतगणना के नतीजों में एनडीए हार गई।
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 5, 2025
हमने परिणाम को स्वीकार किया और यूपीए को बधाई दी, लेकिन हमने चुनाव आयोग को गाली नहीं दी।
लोकतंत्र में जीत और हार, दोनों को स्वीकार करना पड़ता है।
लेकिन… pic.twitter.com/xFiq13TFJI
Context and Political Implications
These allegations come amid heightened political tensions as India gears up for the Bihar Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi’s accusations amplify longstanding claims of electoral misconduct against the BJP and its allies. Such controversies underline the challenge of maintaining trust in democratic institutions, especially when election outcomes are closely contested.
The accusations have also sparked media and public discourse on the robustness of voter verification and the potential for technological and administrative safeguards to prevent such electoral fraud. Meanwhile, opposition parties see Gandhi’s revelations as a rallying point for electoral accountability, while the ruling party contends it is a politically motivated smear campaign.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Democracy depends fundamentally on public confidence in free and fair elections and the institutions that manage them. While it is vital for political actors to question and hold these institutions accountable, claims must be rooted in transparent, credible evidence to avoid destabilising society.
राहुल गांधी ने हरियाणा के मुख्यमंत्री नायब सिंह का एक बयान गलत तरीके से दिखाया, जिसमें उन्होंने कहा कि नायब सिंह ‘व्यवस्था’ कहते हुए मुस्कुरा रहे थे। जबकि नायब सिंह का मतलब था कि अगर ज़रूरत पड़ी तो चुनाव के बाद सरकार बनाने के लिए अन्य दलों से बातचीत करेंगे। राहुल गांधी ने इसे… pic.twitter.com/rS6hgVjLpa
— Haryana BJP (@BJP4Haryana) November 5, 2025
