How BJP, EC ‘Reality-Checkers’ Have Tried To Defuse Rahul Gandhi’s Explosive ‘Vote Theft’ Claims
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A number of of those fact-checks have concluded that the state of affairs shouldn’t be as alarming as Rahul Gandhi has depicted
In an assault on the Election Fee, Rahul Gandhi has alleged widespread voter ID fraud in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Get together. File pic/PTI
Rahul Gandhi’s explosive presentation on the workings of the Election Fee and what he termed as “vote theft” has created fairly a stir. Nevertheless, “fact-checks” by the BJP and Election Fee have proven that it may not be as vital because the Congress wish to imagine. A number of of those fact-checks have concluded that the state of affairs shouldn’t be as alarming as Rahul Gandhi has depicted. Let’s take a better look.
Firstly, Rahul Gandhi’s main allegations are relating to the Mahadevapura polls in Karnataka, the place he claimed the elections had been clearly rigged in favour of the BJP. In truth, a giant rally was held by the Congress in Bengaluru on Friday with this ballot as the point of interest. A fact-check raises the next questions: {a photograph} of the electoral roll with BLA signatures doesn’t present or show a number of voters. Additionally, in keeping with the Election Fee, the BJP led in 4 meeting segments within the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, not simply Mahadevapura. Congress led in 4 meeting segments too in the identical seat.
In response to one fact-check, the presence of duplicate voters in minority stronghold areas of the Congress, similar to Shivajinagar and Chamarajpet, raises critical considerations. The BJP is asking why the Congress shouldn’t be addressing this challenge. It additionally needs to know why the Congress is assuming that solely in areas the place the BJP led, the voter checklist is rigged.
In Maharashtra, fact-checkers are elevating the difficulty of the Dhule Lok Sabha seat, which the Congress received. Maharashtra is the state Rahul Gandhi usually cites in his criticism of the Election Fee. In Dhule, the BJP polled 5.75 lakh votes in 5 meeting segments, whereas the Congress polled 3.84 lakh. Congress led the minority-dominated Malegaon Central by about 94.52%, whereas the BJP received solely about 2.21% of votes. The BJP questions this disparity. This constituency additionally confirmed many duplicate voters, prompting the BJP to query how the Congress received and if duplicate voters contributed to its victory.
One other challenge raised in opposition to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations is the scrutiny of Mahadevapura. He highlighted the difficulty of 80 voters registered at one tackle, however it was found that this tackle was utilized by migrant labourers who had since moved out. There isn’t any proof to indicate that all of them voted for the BJP. Additionally, it was discovered that 18 names had been registered from one home (home quantity 80). How does one clarify this?
The BJP argues this is the reason there’s an pressing want for particular intensive revision (SIR). In response to the Election Fee, the multiplicity of voters happens not due to deliberate fraud however attributable to multi-city, multi-town listings. For this reason the Election Fee has been urging all events to cooperate to stop duplication.
With Rahul Gandhi remaining adamant, there isn’t a breakthrough in sight.
Pallavi Ghosh has lined politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Learn Extra
Pallavi Ghosh has lined politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Learn Extra
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