New Delhi, November 6 — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating large-scale voter fraud in Haryana ahead of the state assembly elections. Gandhi claimed that as many as 2.5 million fake voters have been added to the electoral rolls, calling it “the biggest attack on Indian democracy in recent memory.”
Speaking at a press briefing at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday, Gandhi presented what he described as “evidence of systematic voter list manipulation” in several Haryana constituencies, including Gurugram, Rohtak, Hisar, and Sonipat.
“Brazilian Model’s Photo Used 22 Times”
In one of the more bizarre claims, Gandhi alleged that a Brazilian model’s photograph was used 22 times on different voter IDs across Haryana, highlighting what he called “deeply compromised data practices” by officials.
“A photo of a woman who has never visited India appears on 22 separate voter IDs. In one village, 501 people are shown living in a single house. This is not clerical error — this is fraud,” Gandhi said, holding up printed copies of alleged voter list excerpts.
The Congress leader demanded an immediate probe by the Election Commission of India (ECI), urging it to suspend the use of the disputed rolls and deploy independent observers before polling begins later this month.
BJP Dismisses Allegations as ‘Political Drama’
The ruling BJP, however, swiftly rejected the allegations, calling them “baseless” and “politically timed.”
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Rahul Gandhi was “manufacturing stories” after sensing his party’s “impending defeat” in Haryana.
“Rahul Gandhi is clearly rattled. The voter list is prepared under the direct supervision of the Election Commission, not by any political party. Such wild allegations insult the democratic process,” Patra said at a press conference.
He added that the ECI maintains complete transparency, and voter lists undergo multiple rounds of verification, including public scrutiny and booth-level officer validation.
Congress Demands EC Intervention
The Congress, however, insists that the irregularities are too widespread to be accidental. Party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that internal audits by local party workers and IT teams had uncovered “patterns of digital tampering” that suggest coordinated manipulation.
“In multiple districts, we found identical voter IDs assigned to different individuals. This points to data cloning — a dangerous precedent for future elections,” Ramesh alleged.
Congress has submitted a detailed 175-page complaint to the Election Commission, demanding that the voter rolls be cross-verified with the Aadhaar database and that an independent forensic audit be conducted.
ECI Acknowledges Receipt of Complaint
The Election Commission of India confirmed it has received the Congress party’s complaint and said it will “examine the matter in detail.” In a short statement issued Thursday morning, the Commission reiterated its commitment to “ensuring free and fair elections,” noting that random verification checks are already in place.
An ECI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said preliminary scrutiny had not revealed major discrepancies so far but added that the Commission “takes all complaints seriously.”
Political Fallout Ahead of Haryana Polls
The allegations have triggered a fresh round of political sparring just weeks before Haryana heads to polls, with both major alliances — the BJP-JJP combine and the Congress-AAP bloc — intensifying their campaigns.
Political analysts suggest that Gandhi’s claims could mobilize opposition voters by questioning the credibility of the election process.
“These allegations resonate with voters who already distrust the system. Even if not proven, they create political momentum,” said Dr. Sanjay Kumar, political analyst at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
The BJP, on the other hand, is expected to leverage the controversy to portray Congress as “anti-institutional,” accusing it of undermining constitutional bodies whenever facing electoral pressure.
Haryana’s Election Landscape
Haryana, which elects 90 members to its legislative assembly, has historically been a politically volatile state, swinging between the BJP and Congress. The current government, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, faces anti-incumbency, rising unemployment, and discontent among farmers.
The voter list controversy could influence turnout and confidence levels, particularly in urban districts like Gurugram and Faridabad, where digital infrastructure and surveillance have become major campaign issues.
Rahul Gandhi’s Final Message
In closing remarks, Gandhi urged citizens to “protect their democratic rights” and not let “fake voters decide real futures.”
“India’s democracy is being hacked — not by foreign powers, but by those in power,” he said. “We will not allow fake votes to steal Haryana’s mandate.”
The coming days are likely to see the Election Commission’s formal response and possible verification drives in contested constituencies. Until then, the allegations have added a new layer of tension to what was already shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested state elections of the year.
