Siddaramaiah Backs Rahul Gandhi’s Karnataka LS ‘Vote Theft’ Charge, ECI Blasts ‘Threatening’ Allegations
Karnataka's CM Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi allege BJP manipulated the Lok Sabha elections by misusing the Election Commission, citing suspicious voter additions and deletions.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday claimed that the Congress party’s defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections was due to the “illegal manipulation” of the electoral process by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He accused the BJP of “misusing the Election Commission” to influence the results.
“The results of the recent Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka have not only shocked us but also raised several serious concerns. It is now becoming increasingly evident that the Congress Party’s setback was not due to public opinion but rather due to the illegal manipulation of the electoral process, a manipulation carried out by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through its misuse of the Election Commission,” Siddaramaiah said in a statement.
The Chief Minister said that discussions are underway with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge to determine the next steps. He alleged that in several constituencies, Congress workers reported “suspicious additions of new voters” while long-time voters’ names were deleted without any explanation.
Rahul Gandhi’s Charge of “Election Theft” In Karnataka LS Poll
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reiterated his allegation that elections were being “stolen” in India. “Today, they (ECI) made a statement. This is complete nonsense. The fact of the matter is that the Election Commission is not doing its job. We have concrete, hundred per cent proof of the Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka,” he said.
He added, “It is a hundred per cent proof. We just looked at one constituency, and we found it. I am absolutely convinced that constituency after constituency, this is the drama that is taking place. Thousands and thousands of new voters, aged 50 years, 45 years, 60 and 65 years are added. We have caught them. I want to send a message to the Election Commission: if you think you are going to get away with this, if your officers think they can get away, you are mistaken. We are going to come for you.”
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar echoed Gandhi’s views, stating, “I also agree with Rahul Gandhi, I have made a detailed investigation regarding Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency, a lot of golmal has been done. I don’t want to disclose much. I will come back later on this issue.”
Election Commission Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar rejected the allegations made by Rahul Gandhi, asserting that the electoral rolls were prepared with “full transparency” and shared with recognised parties.
“As informed by the Election Commission of India already, Electoral Rolls are shared with all recognised political parties. During Special Summary Revision-2024, which was taken up before the General Elections to Lok Sabha-2024, the copies of draft and final electoral rolls of all 224 assembly constituencies were provided to representatives of all registered and recognised political parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC),” Anbukumar stated.
Electoral rolls are prepared transparently; copies were shared with recognised political parties pic.twitter.com/XIoVx2qEru
— Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka (@ceo_karnataka) July 24, 2025
He further noted that about 9.17 lakh claims and objections were received between the draft and final rolls, but “no appeals were received,” despite provisions under the law to challenge wrongful additions or deletions.
"As far as the conduct of Lok Sabha elections 2024 are concerned, out of 10 Election Petitions, Not a single Election Petition* was filed by any losing INC candidate as a legal remedy available to INC under Section 80 of RP Act 1951," news agency PTI reported an ECI spokesperson as saying.
"ECI is wondering as to why such baseless and threatening allegations are being made against CEC and that too now?" the spokesperson added.
According to IANS, the Election Commission of India (ECI) also issued a clarification, calling Gandhi’s comments “baseless” and said it was “unfortunate that rather than filing an election petition under section 80 of the Representation of People Act 1951, or awaiting the verdict of the High Court, Rahul Gandhi has chosen to threaten a Constitutional body.”
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