The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to resign from the Lok Sabha on “moral grounds” if he does not trust the Election Commission (EC). The demand came in response to Gandhi’s recent remarks alleging “vote theft” in elections.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “Rahul Gandhi, if you do not trust the Election Commission and the observations made by the Supreme Court, do one thing: first, you resign from the Lok Sabha membership.” He added that the same principle should apply to other senior Congress leaders.
Bhatia urged Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to step down from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively, claiming they too had questioned the credibility of the poll body. “If your top leaders do not have faith in the Election Commission, then chief ministers of Congress ruled states like Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh should also tender their resignations,” he said.
The BJP spokesperson accused Rahul Gandhi of making “baseless allegations” against the EC without providing evidence. According to Bhatia, when the Election Commission sought proof or a written declaration from Gandhi regarding his allegations, he refused to comply.
Reading from a previous Supreme Court judgment, Bhatia said the court had affirmed the bona fides of the Election Commission, noting that the poll body had built its reputation as an impartial institution over the years. “Whatever suits you, you accept. Whatever is inconvenient, you reject and cast aspersions on the Election Commission. This will not work,” he remarked.
The controversy intensified after the Election Commission formally asked Gandhi to file an affidavit under oath supporting his “vote chori” allegations. In reply, Gandhi said he had already taken an oath on the Constitution as a Member of Parliament. “The EC asks me to file an affidavit and give information under oath. I have taken oath inside Parliament, in front of the Constitution, on the Constitution,” he stated.
The exchange marks the latest clash between the ruling BJP and the Congress over the integrity of India’s electoral process. While the BJP insists that the EC has been endorsed by the Supreme Court as a fair and neutral body, the Congress leadership has repeatedly voiced concerns about the conduct of recent elections.
With both sides standing firm, the political confrontation appears set to continue, adding further tension to the national political discourse. The BJP’s latest remarks indicate that it will continue pressing Congress leaders to substantiate their claims or withdraw them entirely, while the Congress is unlikely to step back from its position on alleged electoral irregularities.
