A New Battleground for the 18th Lok Sabha
The political dust from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has barely settled, but the battle lines for the next five years are already being drawn. In a direct challenge to the new government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi renews his vote theft charge and attacks PM Modi, reigniting the contentious debate over electoral integrity. Leading a newly emboldened opposition, Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of orchestrating a “theft” of the democratic process.
EVMs and ‘Match-Fixing’: The Core of the Allegation
Speaking at a public gathering, Gandhi, fresh off a campaign that saw the INDIA bloc defy exit polls, went on the offensive. He revived long-standing concerns about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), framing the issue not as a technical glitch but as a deliberate subversion of the people’s will.
“In India today, the idea that you can win an election without EVMs, without ‘match-fixing’, without putting pressure on the ECI, and without buying the media is non-existent,” Gandhi declared, his words carrying the weight of a leader who now commands a formidable opposition in Parliament.
The Mumbai Controversy: A ‘Smoking Gun’?
The crux of his renewed attack centres on the recent controversy surrounding a Mumbai North West Lok Sabha candidate, where a relative of the winning candidate was allegedly found using a mobile phone connected to an EVM. Gandhi seized upon this incident, labelling it as concrete proof of the opposition’s long-standing claims.
“If the EVMs can be unlocked by a mobile OTP, what is the security left?” he questioned, directly challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) repeated assurances about the standalone and tamper-proof nature of the machines.
Beyond Machines: A Narrative of Institutional Capture
This was more than just a critique of electoral machinery. Gandhi skilfully wove the EVM issue into a broader narrative of institutional capture under Prime Minister Modi. He portrayed the alleged “vote theft” as the final act in a larger play where democratic institutions—from the media to the judiciary and the Election Commission itself—have been systematically weakened.
“The Prime Minister isn’t just a Prime Minister,” Gandhi argued. “He is now a king. And a king has no need for the people’s voice. He only needs his systems, his agencies, and his control.”
BJP Hits Back: ‘Sour Grapes’ and Discrediting Democracy
The BJP has, predictably, hit back with force. Party spokespersons have dismissed Gandhi’s claims as the frustrated rhetoric of a leader who cannot accept the people’s mandate. They point to the Supreme Court’s repeated validation of the EVM-VVPAT system and accuse the Congress of attempting to discredit India’s democratic institutions on the global stage. For the ruling party, this is a classic case of “sour grapes,” an attempt to sow chaos and distrust.
A Changed Mandate: Why This Attack Carries More Weight
However, the political climate has changed. In 2019, such allegations could be brushed aside by the BJP’s 303-seat mandate. Today, with the BJP reliant on allies for a majority and the opposition nearly 240-strong, Gandhi’s words find a more receptive audience. He is no longer just speaking to his base; he is setting the agenda for a relentless, five-year opposition campaign.
By framing the election as fundamentally flawed, Rahul Gandhi is challenging the very legitimacy of the NDA government’s third term, ensuring that the Modi-led administration will be fighting battles not just on policy, but on its democratic credentials. The war of words has officially begun.
