The Election Commission of India retaliated sharply against Rahul Gandhi’s five pointed questions, dismissing them as misleading and challenging him to either formalize his allegations via a signed declaration or apologise to the nation.
On August 8, 2025, at his rally in Bengaluru, Rahul Gandhi raised five direct questions demanding transparency from the poll authority—ranging from requests for digital voter lists and CCTV footage, to allegations of fake voting, voter intimidation, and whether the ECI had become “an agent of the BJP.”
The ECI’s official response, shared under the tagline #ECIFactCheck, labeled Gandhi’s claims as “misleading” and criticized him for failing to follow formal processes or submit written objections.
Highlighting past rejections by the Supreme Court, the Commission reminded that digital voter lists were legally restricted, emphasized the impracticality of reviewing footage from hundreds of thousands of polling stations, and noted that no formal complaints had been filed—even though communications from the AICC existed. ECI then issued a clear ultimatum: “Either sign the Declaration on issues you have raised… or apologize to the nation.”
This incident unfolds against a backdrop of Gandhi’s recent claims of “vote chori” (vote theft), including alleged irregularities in Maharashtra and Karnataka—such as “one crore mystery voters,” destroyed CCTV footage, and withheld voter data—claims that have stirred considerable political
heat.
