The Elusive Stolen Votes After An Elusive EVM Fraud

 

Baseless allegations of “mandate theft” do not wound a leader; they erode the confidence of every Indian voter. Democracy demands evidence, not echo chambers.

In a democracy, the ultimate seat of power does not rest in Parliament, nor in the Prime Minister’s Office, but in the hands of the people — expressed through the humble ballot. That is the sacred contract of our Republic. When a leader stands up and declares that the mandate itself has been stolen, the charge is not merely political — it is an assault on the very sanctity of every citizen’s vote.

Rahul Gandhi alleges that not just one, but several seats across India in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were “stolen” through manipulation of voter lists, aided by the Election Commission and the BJP. The numbers rolled off his tongue with practiced ease — “1.25 lakh fake voters in Karnataka,” “one crore new voters in Maharashtra Assembly lists missing in Lok Sabha rolls.” He even claimed the CCTV footage of counting centers was deliberately erased.

It is here that a simple but profound question arises: where is the proof? Democracy does not run on claims; it runs on facts. It is easy to rouse a crowd with grand accusations, to dress suspicion in the robes of certainty. But truth is like sunlight — it does not need a megaphone, only the courage to reveal it.

Yes, there are technical issues in our electoral system, as in any large democracy. Migration, new registrations, and corrections often alter voter lists between elections. The 45-day CCTV retention policy is indeed inadequate, and it can — and should — be changed. But to convert procedural flaws into a sweeping claim of national mandate theft is to take a hammer to the foundations of faith in our institutions.

In politics, loss is bitter. But in public life, grace in defeat is as important as humility in victory. The pattern of casting doubt on the system after every electoral loss — first on EVMs, now on voter rolls — risks normalising cynicism among the very people whose trust is the lifeblood of democracy.

When crores of Indians leave their homes in summer heat and monsoon rain, stand patiently in queues, and press the button on the EVM, they are not just choosing a government — they are reaffirming the idea of India. To tell them their voice was meaningless, without irrefutable evidence, is to tell them their faith was misplaced.

Truth needs no rehearsal; lies demand constant repetition. If Rahul Gandhi holds incontrovertible proof of widespread electoral fraud, let it be presented to the courts, to the Election Commission, to the people — not as political theatre, but as an act of service to the Republic. Until then, let us remember: the ballot is not a plaything of parties, it is the heartbeat of the nation. To shake the people’s confidence in it for short-term political gain is not just reckless — it is dangerous.

India’s democracy will not survive on the strength of one leader or one party. It will endure because the people believe that their vote counts, and because we guard that belief as fiercely as we guard our borders.