The INDIA opposition alliance is preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, intensifying its clash with the Election Commission following Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of mass voter fraud.

The Congress leader and Lok Sabha’s Leader of the Opposition recently claimed that voter manipulation took place in key states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana, alleging that the Commission tampered with electoral data to favor the ruling BJP. On August 7, Gandhi specifically pointed to the Mahadevapura constituency in Bangalore Central, where he said over 1 lakh “stolen” votes swung the Lok Sabha seat to the BJP, accusing the EC of being complicit.

As per Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner requires a process equivalent to impeaching a Supreme Court judge, involving a vote in Parliament.

CEC dismisses allegations, demands proof or apology

In response, Gyanesh Kumar strongly denied Gandhi’s accusations, labeling them unfounded and disrespectful to the Constitution. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Kumar called on Gandhi to submit a sworn affidavit backing his claims or issue a formal apology to the nation.

There are only two options: submit a signed affidavit or apologise. If no affidavit is received within seven days, it will be clear that the allegations are without merit, Kumar stated.

Gandhi, however, countered with accusations of bias. The Election Commission demands an affidavit from me. But when BJP leaders make similar claims, no such demand is made, he said, pointing to Union Minister Anurag Thakur as an example.

Opposition rallies behind Gandhi, criticises EC’s response

Several opposition leaders voiced support for Gandhi while questioning the EC’s neutrality. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the CEC’s tone resembled that of a BJP leader, not that of an impartial official. He sounded like he was defending the ruling party. What about the one lakh voters we highlighted in Mahadevapura? No answers were given, Khera remarked.

RJD’s Manoj Jha accused the EC of sidestepping critical questions, while JMM MP Mahua Maji called on the Commission to verify the documents Gandhi presented at his press event.

What are the allegations

During his August 7 press conference, Gandhi shared what he described as Congress’ research into the Mahadevapura voter rolls, pointing to duplicate entries, fake addresses, and suspicious mass registrations, including claims of 80 voters registered at a single location. He also accused the EC of limiting access to polling booth footage to cover up evidence, saying the webcasting and CCTV data was being wiped after just 45 days.

CEC Kumar defended the Commission’s stance, saying releasing such footage could compromise voter privacy. Should we expose images of women—our mothers, daughters—just to satisfy political allegations? he asked, asserting that only registered voters had cast their ballots.

He also rejected claims of bloated voter lists in Maharashtra, noting that no formal objections were filed during the draft roll period and that no proof had been submitted even months after polling.

Repeating a falsehood doesn’t make it true. The sun doesn’t rise in the west no matter how many times someone says it does, Kumar added, reaffirming the EC’s commitment to fairness and transparency.

Kumar concluded by saying preparations for the Special Intensive Revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls were being conducted openly, supported by the trust of 70 million voters

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has urged a reassessment of how stray dog management funds are allocated, advocating for direct support to reputable animal welfare groups instead of channeling money through municipal bodies.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor argued that the core issue isn’t a lack of funding but the inefficiency or unwillingness of local authorities to effectively carry out sterilisation and sheltering programs. He noted that funds often remain unused or are misdirected and suggested that NGOs with a track record in operating shelters and managing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme are better equipped to handle the task.

Tharoor emphasized the need to strike a balance between ensuring public safety and treating animals with compassion. He viewed the Supreme Court’s recent directive as a result of growing frustration with municipal inaction.

His remarks follow the Supreme Court’s August 11 order, which labeled the rise in dog bite cases as a deeply troubling issue. The court instructed authorities in Delhi NCR to begin the immediate and permanent relocation of all stray dogs and mandated the construction of shelters for around 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, with further expansion to follow. It also warned that anyone interfering with the relocation effort could face contempt of court.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a strong counter to the Congress, mirroring the “vote theft” accusations made by Rahul Gandhi last week. The party has now turned the spotlight on former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, questioning how her name found its way into India’s electoral rolls in the 1980s, allegedly before she became a citizen.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur accused Congress and other opposition parties of securing victories with the help of “infiltrator voters.” He also criticized Congress for resisting the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, calling out what he described as the party’s vote bank politics and selective appeasement.

Thakur pointed to alleged voter list irregularities in high-profile constituencies, including Rahul Gandhi’s Raebareli, Abhishek Banerjee’s Diamond Harbour, and Akhilesh Yadav’s Kannauj, citing instances of duplicate names, incorrect information, and mass rigging.

Adding fuel to the fire, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya took to social media to claim that Sonia Gandhi’s name appeared on the voters’ list as early as 1980, despite her reportedly not holding Indian citizenship at the time. According to Malviya, the entry appeared during a voter list update using January 1, 1980, as the qualifying date, when the Gandhi family lived at 1 Safdarjung Road. He asserted that Sonia’s name was included alongside Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, and Maneka Gandhi.

He further alleged that the entry violated electoral laws, which require Indian citizenship to be eligible for registration. Malviya claimed her name was removed following controversy in 1982, only to reappear in 1983, again, he says, before her naturalisation as an Indian citizen.

The Congress has not officially responded to these new allegations. However, party MP Tariq Anwar, speaking to NDTV, stated that responsibility lies with the Election Commission, not Sonia Gandhi herself, as they were the authority that included her name.

This back-and-forth follows Rahul Gandhi’s explosive press conference on August 7 where he accused the Election Commission of large-scale electoral fraud in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, citing the presence of over a crore questionable voters and other serious irregularities. In response, the EC has asked Gandhi to submit his evidence under oath. Gandhi has replied that the Commission need only examine its own records.