BJP slams Rahul Gandhi, says Congress leaders should step down if they doubt Election Commission

On Friday, Rahul Gandhi responded to the EC’s demand for an affidavit under oath over his “vote chori” remark File pic.

The BJP on Saturday demanded that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resign from the Lok Sabha "on moral grounds" if he does not have confidence in the Election Commission. The party criticised him for failing to submit a written declaration to back his "vote theft" allegations, reported PTI.

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also urged Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to step down from the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, respectively, if they too lack trust in the electoral process.

"You (Rahul Gandhi) make baseless allegations before the media and then refuse to give proof and a written declaration when the constitutional body asks for it," Bhatia said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, reported PTI.

Citing excerpts from a past Supreme Court judgement, Bhatia noted that the apex court had affirmed the credibility of the Election Commission, describing it as an institution that has earned a reputation for impartiality over the years.

"Rahul Gandhi, if you don't trust the election commission and the observations made by the Supreme Court, do one thing: first, you resign from the Lok Sabha membership. Priyanka Gandhi, you also resign. Sonia Gandhi, you also resign at least on moral grounds because you are raising questions on the same Election Commission," Bhatia said. "Then, you go to the Supreme Court, the high court and people," he said.

As reported by PTI, Bhatia further argued that the chief ministers of Congress-ruled Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh should also resign since their party's top leadership has expressed distrust in the poll body.

"Whatever suits you, you accept. Whatever is inconvenient, you reject and cast aspersions on the Election Commission. This will not work," Bhatia said.

On Friday, Rahul Gandhi responded to the EC's demand for an affidavit under oath over his "vote chori" remark by asserting that he had already taken the oath in Parliament on the Constitution, reported PTI.

Addressing the Vote Adhikar Rally in Bengaluru, Gandhi also called for an investigation by the Karnataka government into the alleged inclusion of fake voters during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state.

"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 said.

Bhatia dismissed Gandhi's "vote theft" allegation as false, saying, "'Rahul aka 'arajak tatva' (anarchic element) has now become Rahul aka 'vidhwansak' (destroyer). He wants to destroy the Constitution of India and Indian democracy."

He went on to accuse the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha of being "immature" and attempting to undermine constitutional bodies by issuing threats to Election Commission officials, reported PTI.

(Inputs from PTI)