Rahul Gandhi asks Karnataka government to investigate ‘vote fraud’ in Mahadevapura Assembly constituency

Charging the Election Commission of India (ECI) with colluding with the BJP to “steal seats and elections” in the country, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday (August 8, 2025) asked the Karnataka Government to investigate the “vote fraud” in the Mahadevapura Assembly seat under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency and take action against officials involved.

Also read: ‘Vote Adhikar Rally’ in Bengaluru highlights

Addressing a huge gathering of party workers at a rally organised by the Congress party at Freedom Park in the city, Mr. Gandhi claimed that 1,00,250 “fake votes” were created in Mahadevapura in order to ensure a win for the BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Demanding that the ECI should immediately share electronic voter data and videography done at polling booths during the elections in the last ten years, Mr. Gandhi said if they do not do so, it only proves that they are hiding evidence of a ‘criminal act’ and helping the BJP in stealing votes.

Five ways of vote theft

Listing out five different ways through which the alleged “vote fraud” was done, he said the ECI had manipulated to increase the voters for BJP by creating duplicate voters. “Our research in the last six months by tallying every voter identity photo with lakhs of photographs has shown fake and invalid addresses have been created. While bulk voters have been found at a single address, invalid photos and the misuse of Form 6 that is meant for enrolling first time voters has been done,” he explained.

Alleging that the ECI is not supposed to function for the BJP but for the constitution, Mr. Gandhi said it is the Commission’s duty to protect the constitution and rights of the country’s citizens.

Pointing out that the Mahadevapura seat “vote fraud” is just an example, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has managed to remain in power by stealing 25 seats that he needed and all these seats have been gained by a margin of around 34,000 votes.

Campaign to continue

“We have physical data of voters on paper. If you do not share electronic data, we will continue our investigation and campaign to prove that such ‘criminal acts’ have not been done just against the people of Karnataka but across the country. You cannot hide evidence. You will have to face the opposition. The Karnataka government should investigate this criminal act against the people of Karnataka and take action these ECI officials who have added thousands of fake voters. Mahadevapura ‘a truth should come out,” he asserted.

Calling upon every Congress worker to protect the Constitution and it principles, Mr Gandhi said the whole nation should question why the ECI is not sharing electronic data. “Instead they are amending rules and bringing down their websites in several States where people are questioning them.”

PM Modi should step down: Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately step down from his post. “He has no moral right to continue in his post. Mr Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote fraud’ expose has shown that he has stolen seats to remain in power,” he alleged.

Legal banks should be set up: Shivakumar

Deputy Chief MInister D.K. Shivakumar, who spoke at the protest rally, said it is Mr. Gandhi’s wish that ‘legal banks’ should be set up to protect the rights of every voter at the booth level. “I assure the party that we will work towards setting up such banks on the lines of blood banks,” he said.

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and several others leaders also spoke.