Aaditya Thackeray backs Rahul Gandhi's allegations of voter manipulation, criticizes EC's role

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday lent his support to Rahul Gandhi's allegations of large-scale voter manipulation, accusing the Election Commission (EC) of facilitating fraudulent practices to help the BJP secure victories in state elections.

Thackeray emphasized that Gandhi's claims were not merely a political point but a broader concern about the integrity of India’s electoral system. He criticized the EC for allegedly allowing fraudulent voter entries that undermine the value of citizens’ votes. "Once again, Rahul Gandhi has exposed how the Election Commission facilitates the BJP’s conquest of states through vote theft," Thackeray said in a post on X . He argued that the manipulation of voter rolls devalues the vote of every Indian, rendering the electoral process unfair.

The Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, had earlier presented evidence alleging that 25 lakh fake entries were added to the electoral rolls during the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections. Gandhi's accusations were supported by a claim that a Brazilian model’s photograph had been used 22 times across 10 booths in the Rai constituency, further suggesting the scale of the alleged fraud. Thackeray echoed these concerns, drawing attention to the systematic manipulation of voter lists that Gandhi and other opposition leaders have raised in multiple states.

"We have already exposed instances of voter list manipulation in Maharashtra, but despite protests, the Election Commission has refused to take action," Thackeray said, underscoring his party’s ongoing battle for electoral transparency.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader stressed that the fight was not just about Maharashtra or any one state but for the preservation of free and fair elections across the country. "This is a fight for the democracy envisioned by our Constitution. Vote theft must not be allowed to dictate the future of India," he concluded, echoing the slogan, "Vote chor, gaddi chhod" (vote thief, vacate power).

Thackeray’s support for Gandhi’s allegations signals a growing alliance among opposition parties against the BJP’s alleged electoral dominance, reflecting concerns about the integrity of India’s democratic institutions.