New Delhi, April 21 (ANI) — The political temperature surged on Monday after Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi made controversial remarks about the Election Commission during his address to the Indian diaspora in Boston, United States. While the Congress party rallied to support the Rae Bareli MP, the BJP launched a scathing attack, accusing him of defaming India’s democratic institutions on foreign soil.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that India’s Election Commission is “compromised,” citing suspicious voter list additions during the Maharashtra elections. “More people voted in Maharashtra than the total number of people in Maharashtra, and this is a fact,” he said, claiming that 65 lakh votes were added in two hours, which he deemed “physically impossible.”
Congress Comes to Gandhi’s Defense
Congress leaders lined up to back Gandhi’s claims. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called the concerns over “fake voters” valid, stating, “Rahul Gandhi clearly stated the figures, but his complaints have not been taken into consideration by the Election Commission.”
Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda referenced Haryana’s electoral rolls, stating, “Many votes increased between the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The only way forward is to hold elections by ballot.”
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari defended Gandhi’s US remarks, saying he had “given facts in his speech,” and raised a broader concern: “How will democracy survive until the Election Commission is impartial and free from pressure?”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray echoed Gandhi’s concerns, asserting, “His statement is 100% correct because the whole world knows that the Election Commission is administered from the BJP office.”
Congress MP Imran Masood added, “How does national or international soil matter when what he says is heard around the world?”
BJP Slams Gandhi for “Defaming India Abroad”
On the other side, the BJP came down heavily on Gandhi for his remarks, accusing him of undermining democratic institutions and spreading falsehoods abroad.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said Gandhi’s actions “reflect the frustration of repeated electoral defeats,” adding, “He cannot win elections by defaming anyone.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Gandhi of “humiliating Indian organisations and institutions” abroad and said, “This shows how people, while going against PM Modi, have started going against the country.”
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called Gandhi’s remarks “unfortunate,” claiming that he was “irritated by the global recognition of India’s democratic traditions.” Pradhan urged Gandhi not to “hurt India’s democratic dignity” based on his electoral losses.
Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan and Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha also criticized Gandhi. Harichandan said it was his “habit” to defame India overseas, while Sinha remarked that Gandhi “is not worthy to be the Leader of Opposition,” accusing him of “tearing apart the Constitution” he pretends to uphold.
Haryana Minister Anil Vij went a step further, questioning Gandhi’s patriotism, asking, “Does he even consider Hindustan as Bharat Mata or not?”
The controversy underscores the political divide over institutional trust and the tone of international discourse by Indian leaders. With general elections approaching, the debate is likely to further intensify over how far political leaders can go in their criticism, especially on foreign platforms.
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