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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Now, BJP levels ‘vote theft' allegations against Rahul, Akhilesh, other senior Opp leaders
The BJP on Wednesday claimed irregularities in voter registration in a number of Opposition Lok Sabha seats — including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's Diamond Harbour and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's Kannauj — and accused these leaders of securing victory through 'vote theft'. At a press conference in the capital, former Union minister Anurag Thakur presented an analysis of electoral rolls in these constituencies to make a range of allegations — duplicate votes, fake addresses, fake relatives, incorrect ages and large-scale voter additions. He also claimed voter registration irregularities in the Lok Sabha seats of Wayanad (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) and Mainpuri (Dimple Yadav), and the Tamil Nadu Assembly seat of Kolathur held by Chief Minister M K Stalin. Thakur's claims followed Rahul's allegations of 'vote chori' last week. On Thursday, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha cited data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to claim that over one lakh votes were 'stolen' in Karnataka's Mahadevapura assembly segment through duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses and single-address voters. On Tuesday, Opposition leaders took out a protest march from Parliament over the issue of 'vote theft' and special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Thakur on Wednesday said the Opposition leaders he named should resign. He claimed that there were about 2.99 lakh 'doubtful voters' registered in the Rae Bareli constituency. The BJP leader also claimed there were about 2.69 lakh 'doubtful voters' in the Diamond Harbour seat, 93,499 in Wayanad, 2.51 lakh in Kannauj, 2.55 lakh in Mainpuri and 19,776 in Kolathur. 'My direct question is, Akhilesh ji, Rahul ji, Priyanka ji, when will you resign? And as far as the propaganda king is concerned, you all know this is not a new face. Every time, his work is the same — to spread fear and confusion. Before elections, to spread lies and rumours in the name of the Constitution, to run propaganda among the people, and after losing the elections, to quietly go on a foreign trip,' he said. Thakur said the Congress as well as the larger INDIA bloc were opposing the SIR exercise to 'protect their infiltrator vote bank'. He alleged that the Congress had laid the foundation of 'electoral corruption' in the very first election of 1952 in which B R Ambedkar lost by 14,561 votes. He added that the Congress did the same in 1957 in the form of 'booth capturing'. In 1967, he alleged, the Congress carried out 'complete rigging' of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir and in 1988, in collusion with the National Conference, the Congress 'carried out large-scale rigging.' Meanwhile, the BJP launched a separate attack on senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi with the party's National Information & Technology Department head Amit Malviya claiming that the former Congress president's 'tryst with India's voters' list is riddled with glaring violations of electoral law'. He shared a purported copy of electoral rolls of the Gandhi family from 1980 which stated that her name was struck off due to her nationality. 'Her name first appeared on the rolls in 1980 — three years before she became an Indian citizen and while she still held Italian citizenship…' he said. 'Following an outcry in 1982, her name was deleted from the list — only to reappear in 1983. But even her reinstatement raised serious questions… The qualifying date for registration was January 1, 1983 — yet she was granted Indian citizenship only on April 30, 1983…' he alleged. Responding to Malviya's allegation, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said: 'In 1980, it was pointed out that Sonia Gandhi ji's name shouldn't be in the electoral roll. It was an error by the ECI. The name was withdrawn respectfully, and reinstated in 1983. We are saying that when the ECI makes an error, we are fixing responsibility, and not running away.' 'Now, let's talk about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has been contesting from Varanasi for three times now. He has to be in the electoral roll there. Then, how did the PM cast his vote in Sabarmati in 2022,' said Bhagat.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJP alleges voter registration irregularities in opposition leaders' seats amid Rahul Gandhi's ‘vote chori' charge
The BJP on Wednesday claimed irregularities in voter registration in Rae Bareli, Wayanad, Diamond Harbour and Kannauj parliamentary seats and asked Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Abhishek Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav to resign as Lok Sabha MPs, alleging they secured victory in elections with "vote chori". New Delhi: BJP MP Anurag Thakur addresses a press conference at the party headquarters, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (PTI Photo) (PTI08_13_2025_000196A)(PTI) Giving a slide-show presentation on the issue at the BJP headquarters in Delhi on an 'analysis' of electoral rolls in these constituencies represented by opposition leaders, former Union minister Anurag Thakur also flagged "irregularities" in the voter registration in Kolathur assembly seat in Tamil Nadu and in Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh and asked Chief Minister and DMK supremo M K Stalin and SP leader Dimple Yadav to resign for "rigging" election. He slammed the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party and DMK leaders for raising questions on the Election Commission and accused them of running a vicious propaganda against the special intensive revision (SIR) of the elector rolls, which is currently underway in Bihar and would be launched in other states, to protect their "vote bank of illegal Bangladeshi infiltration" and other "intruders" "Seeing this 'shor' (hue and cry) being made by the opposition, it now seems that 'chor machaye shor'", he said, suggesting those who are in the wrong are now crying foul. "Rae Bareli, Wayanad, Kannuaj, to Diamond Harbour -- everywhere one question is coming up -- why did they make fake voters. Will they resign for indulging in 'vote chori' and protecting intruders?" Thakur said. Levelling allegations of "vote chori", Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had on Thursday, through a presentation at a press conefrence, cited data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to claim that over 1 lakh votes were "stolen" in Mahadevapura assembly segment in Karnataka through five types of manipulation, including duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, single-address voters. On Tuesday, opposition leaders took out a protest march from the Parliament House to the Election Commission's headquarters here on the issue but were stopped and briefly detained by the police. The Congress on Wednesday stepped up its campaign against alleged 'vote chori' by releasing a new video depicting how "fake votes" were being cast, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge asking people to raise their voice and save constitutional institutions from the "clutches of the BJP". Gandhi also shared the minute-long video and said, "Aapke vote ki chori aapke adhikar ki chori, aapki pehchaan ki chori hai".
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Two arrested for bid to assault ex-min Swami Prasad Maurya
Lucknow: Rae Bareli police on Wednesday arrested two youths for attempting to assault former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya during his visit to the city. The incident occurred around 11:30 am when Maurya, en route to Fatehpur from Lucknow, halted at Gol Chauraha to meet his supporters. As he stepped out of his vehicle, two men, identified as Rohit Dwivedi, son of Amresh Kumar, a resident of Kaurapur Gaura under Ramganj police station limits, and Shivam Yadav, son of Krishan Kumar of Aati village under Deeh police station, allegedly tried to confront him. According to a written complaint filed by supporter Dilip Kumar Maurya, the accused created a ruckus and misbehaved with Swami Prasad Maurya. When other workers intervened, the accused allegedly threatened to kill the former minister. Both men attempted to flee but were promptly taken into custody by the police. A video of the incident later went viral on social media. During preliminary interrogation, Rohit Dwivedi confessed that he attacked Maurya because the leader had "abused the Brahmin community and made derogatory remarks against Sanatan Dharma and Lord Ram." Additional SP, Rae Bareli, Sanjeev Sinha said an FIR was registered under BNS sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult), and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) against the two arrested accused. Meanwhile, Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad strongly condemned the attempted assault on Swami Prasad Maurya, calling the incident shameful and condemnable.
Mint
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘Say Donald Trump is a liar': Rahul Gandhi dares PM Narendra Modi during Operation Sindoor debate
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition and Rae Bareli MP, has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly call US President Donald Trump a 'liar' for claiming credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the tensions sparked by the Pahalgam terror attack. In his speech during a debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi also targeting the Central government for lack of 'political will' in their attack on Pakistan. Referring to the targeted attack on terrorist establishments in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), Rahul Gandhi accused the government of 'tieing the hands of the pilots'. 'I was listening to Rajnath Singh. The Defence Minister said that Operation Sindoor began at 1:05 am and it lasted 22 minutes. Then he said the most shocking thing. He said that ' we called Pakistan at 1:35 am and told them that we do not want to escalate, and we targeted only non-military targets'. You told Pakistanis what you will do. You went into Pakistan, and you told our pilots not to attack their air defence. It was bound that the aircraft would be downed. You tied the hands of our pilots,' Rahul Gandhi said.
India Today
14-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Robert Vadra: Politics is in the heir
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated Feb 20, 2012)The oldest political dynasty in India has a new dynast. On February 6, Robert Vadra, 42, chose Rae Bareli, the headquarters of Gandhi Inc, political home of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, to announce his ambitions. Astride a motorcycle, he declared: "If people want, I can join politics.'' The people did not reply; and the Congress party was a bit hesitant about its reaction. Most Congressmen were stunned. Loyalty lines were Gandhi, 41, was their chosen leader, and sister Priyanka, 40, a support rather than threat. What would her husband Robert constitute? In public perception, Rae Bareli had been allotted to Priyanka. She was seen as the natural successor to the family seat. Vadra has disrupted all calculations; the unspoken worry is that Vadra has developed prime ministerial ambitions and is now ready to voice who was campaigning in Amethi, 60 km away, blamed the media for asking her husband a golmatol (roundabout) question. She understood the implications, because a dynasty cannot have two heirs without Mughal-style war eventually breaking out. "He (Vadra) is a successful businessman and has no time for politics,'' she said. But her successful businessman refused to back down. In yet another interview, this time to a news channel, he reiterated his statement: "I think there is a time and place for everything. The day I feel that I can make a difference for the people, and the people would like me representing them... That calling will come at some stage, I feel.'' This was as plain as ambition can get. Suddenly Vadra, who has spent 15 years in the shadows, did not look apologetic about space in the limelight. His two children Raihan, 11, and Miraya, 9, came with him on this first solo foray into Rae Bareli. Since 1999, when he started accompanying the family on election campaigns. The man who once drove his brother-in-law Rahul's car seems to be seeking the driver's leaders are apprehensive about Vadra's move from Page 3 to Page 1. Adjectives like loose cannon are being used to describe Vadra, supplementing the familiar analogy between him and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto. Local Congress leaders in Rae Bareli have noticed the change in Vadra. Kalyan Singh Gandhi, 45, a Congress leader who has worked with the family for the past two decades, says Vadra wanted to create an impact in this election and asked for an individual event befitting his style. "So I organised the bike rally for him in Salon reserved constituency in Rae Bareli. Vadraji addressed two rallies before getting on the bike,'' Kalyan told India Today. The rally was officially in support of the local candidate Shiv Balak Pasi, who rode pillion on Vadra's bike. But it was in truth a coming-out also rode into controversy for violating the model code of conduct when the District Election Officer Pawan Sain stopped him. The 2005 batch IAS officer was promptly issued a transfer order even though the Election Commission (EC) claimed the order had been issued days earlier. However, the EC later said that Sain would stay on till the polls were has benefited from his association with the Gandhi family. Some privileges are minor but irritants in the public eye. For instance, the exemption from pre-embarkation security check at all the airports of the country. There are 31 categories of exemption, Vadra is the only one named, a category of his own. The remaining 30 are defined by rank and his marriage, Vadra's business has grown exponentially. His father Rajinder Vadra ran a brassware export business in Moradabad. Young Vadra started Artex, a handicrafts and fashion accessories business in 1997, the year he got married. In earlier interviews, he has spoken of how he went door to door selling samples. "It's not easy to set up a business from scratch. I went to Chawri Bazar and into the galis of Old Delhi to find my suppliers. I travelled the world with a bag of samples, went door to door to find buyers. I got pushed away many times but I persisted. And we have done very well. We have come a long way,'' he told a paper in brass-to-gold story is now in the public domain. In March 2011, a pink paper reported details about his "quiet and unheralded entry'' into the real estate business, including a partnership and wide-ranging transactions with the country's biggest realty firm, DLF. According to the paper, Vadra scaled up and diversified his business in 2007, acquiring tracts of land in Haryana and Rajasthan, a 50 per cent stake in a leading business hotel in Delhi, and attempting an entry into the business of charter aircraft. Several of his companies have received loans, some of them unsecured, from DLF Group responded to the report, saying that his association with DLF stemmed from a long-standing friendship with the family that controls the realty giant. "I have known the DLF people for a long time and they are friends of mine. I had wanted to invest in real estate and one thing led to another,'' he said. He took pains to clarify that he was doing things on his own. DLF claimed that the "business relationship of DLF Group with Vadra has been in his capacity as an individual entrepreneur and on a completely transparent and arms-length basis" So far, Vadra's growing empire has escaped public scrutiny because he has remained a private individual. If he becomes a claimant for legislature and office, he will have to abandon that returned to Delhi with Priyanka on the evening of February 6 after his news-making trip to Rae Bareli. Priyanka hit the campaign trail again on February 9. There is no word on Vadra's plans. Sources say the embarrassed Congress is looking for a way to rein in the son-in-law. "He has stolen the limelight from Rahul. Whatever gains Congress has made because of Rahul's efforts will come to naught if damage control is not done,'' rues a Congress has infused some life into a dead Uttar Pradesh Congress but Vadra has put the party on the backfoot. At the Centre too, the Congress leadership is not sure how to deal with Vadra; marriage creates obvious sensitivities. Questions remain in the mind: does Vadra have Sonia Gandhi's permission? Is he putting pressure on his wife? The official party line was offered by General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi and spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi. "People have interpreted Vadra's statement in a different context, I have nothing to add after Priyanka Gandhi's clarification on her husband's political ambitions,'' said Singhvi. He did not comment on Vadra's statements made in the wake of Priyanka's statements over the years, indicate that politics has always been a temptation, although his claimed focus is on his business, which he runs from his old 268, Sukhdev Vihar home in South Delhi. Maybe the time has come, in his calculation, for the crossover step. His business is flourishing and his persona familiar to media. He loves a party, whether it is at LAP night club or F-Bar at Ashok Hotel. He is not averse to being photographed in body-hugging black leather, which even earned him the Best Dressed Man Award from a city supplement in December 2011.A fitness fanatic, he is obsessed with his body, which he loves to display-be it in a fitness glossy or on his Facebook profile. He loves the toys that money can buy, and has an array of luxury cars, including a black 500 SEL Mercedes, a top-end BMW and a recently acquired Range Rover. Being protected by the Special Protection Group by virtue of marriage to Priyanka, he travels in style: his car is preceded by a pilot Gypsy with five Delhi Police commandos and followed by another Gypsy. In 2011, he purchased five top-end bikes-Hayabusa, Harley-Davidson and Ducati-though his friendly bike rides with brother-in-law Rahul have now has never been far from the headlines. Highs or lows, his life has been full of quirks and controversies. His uncle ran a school sponsored by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the family farmhouse in Moradabad. He disassociated himself from his father Rajinder and brother Richard through a public legal notice in January 2002. He alleged that they were promising jobs and favours using his name and association with the Gandhi family. His late father sued Vadra for April 2009, his father was found dead in a rundown Yusuf Sarai motel during the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. The police said it appeared to be a suicide. Nothing was proven. His brother Richard committed suicide in September 2003 in Moradabad at the family's home. Vadra's sister Michelle died in a car accident on the Delhi-Jaipur highway in April is close to his mother Maureen, an Anglo-Indian of Scottish origin, who is a director in his five companies established after 2007. Priyanka was a founder-director in one of his companies, Blue Breeze Trading Pvt Ltd, set up in 2007 for chartering aircraft. However, she disassociated herself from the company and ceased to be a director in July 2008. Of late, Vadra has been spending a lot of time travelling, mostly to Dubai and England, leading some to claim that he might have acquired NRI status. When in India, he is said to divide his time equally between his luxury apartment at DLF Aralias in Gurgaon, and the couple's home in Delhi's Lutyens' Zone, Lodi who has earned herself the sobriquet of barsaati mendak (monsoon frog) seen only during elections, is focusing on bringing up their two children. She is trying to ensure a normal childhood for them, even saying in an interview that she loves baking cupcakes for them. She is a good, sensible mother. Studying in The Shri Ram School in Delhi, the children are believed to be well-behaved, disciplined and fuss-free. Priyanka makes it a point to attend all parent-teacher meetings and is active in the school's Parent-Teacher peace of mind, Priyanka has been practising Vipassana (meditation) for over a decade. She has also completed a master's degree in Buddhism. She also met Nalini, her father Rajiv Gandhi's assassin, in Vellore jail in 2008 "to make peace with the violence'' in her life. "I refuse to let anger and violence overpower me,'' she explained in an interview has, till now, been careful about separating the personal and the political but he has managed to inadvertently pit himself against Priyanka, the darling of the Congress, this time. The party would prefer Priyanka to become the candidate from Rae Bareli if Sonia Gandhi retires because of health reasons. In 2011, he told the paper that published his business links that he does "not try to benefit from my family". "I never take obligations from people because if I do, they will ask me for something bigger in return... People can imagine all kinds of things about me but people who matter to me know me and know how I am." Now, it seems he wants the world at large to know to India Today Magazine- Ends
