'EC gaslighting citizens': Rahul Gandhi attacks poll panel over ink row; BJP hits back

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, launched a pointed criticism of the Election Commission of India, accusing the ECI of undermining public confidence in democracy by 'facilitating' vote theft -- a claim that the Congress party has persistently made for some time in an effort to discredit the poll panel.

Rahul Gandhi’s stern criticism of the polling body came moments after the counting of votes began for 29 civic body elections in Maharashtra, including the BMC, seeking to embolden the opposition’s claims of voter fraud in the municipal elections. A day ago, the Thackeray cousins also claimed election fraud, questioning the authenticity of indelible ink used to mark voters in the civic polls.

The BJP was quick to counter Gandhi’s charge, claiming that this was an attempt to deflect attention from the impending defeat and instead make the ECI a scapegoat.