Bengaluru : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “deliberately tarnishing” India’s democratic institutions by alleging voter fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka. Senior BJP leaders slammed the Congress for attempting to manufacture a narrative of electoral malpractice months after the polls concluded and results were declared.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, speaking to reporters in Dharwad, ridiculed Rahul Gandhi’s voter fraud allegations, calling them a “desperate and dishonest ploy” to cover up the Congress party’s consistent electoral failures. “One year has passed since the elections, and now you talk about vote fraud? You waited a year just because people didn’t vote for you in the Lok Sabha?” he questioned.
Joshi further stated, “You [Congress] got 136 seats in the state assembly elections, and now the people are cursing their own vote. When you win, EVMs are perfect. When you lose, you blame the machines, the Election Commission, the judiciary everyone but yourselves.” He condemned Rahul Gandhi for consistently shifting the blame and for what he called “intellectual dishonesty.”
Joshi also recalled historical instances where Congress allegedly misused constitutional bodies. “When Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, you stopped elections across the country—why? Only his constituency should have been affected. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi handpicked their Election Commissioners. And now you lecture us on the sanctity of institutions?” he asked.
‘Congress is bankrupt—morally and intellectually’: BJP hits out at Rahul Gandhi
Joshi also accused the Congress of paralyzing parliamentary proceedings. “The session began on July 21. Congress promised to discuss Operation Sindoor but then backed out. Prime Minister Modi responded clearly. But fearing further exposure, they fled from the debate. The Congress is running away because it knows its cover was blown,” Joshi said, referring to the recent national security debate.
He reminded the public that during the UPA regime, there were 28 terror attacks, yet the Congress-led central government took no concrete action against Pakistan. “Now they talk big. When they had the opportunity to act, they sat silently,” he added.
Rahul’s protest march in Bengaluru triggers political firestorm
In Bengaluru, the BJP has opposed Rahul Gandhi’s voter fraud rally in Mahadevapura, calling it a politically motivated drama designed to mislead voters ahead of the Bihar elections. BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra and opposition leader R. Ashoka questioned how the Congress-led state government, which routinely cites court orders to deny protests by opposition parties, has now “conveniently” allowed Rahul Gandhi’s rally.
Calling the Congress “a party of fools,” Vijayendra said, “This is not just foolishness; this is a dangerous move. You are creating a national narrative against the Election Commission without providing a shred of evidence. Why didn’t they take this to court? Why scream fraud on the streets? This is an attempt to damage constitutional trust.”
Expressing strong resentment, Vijayendra added, “If the government allows this rally, we too will hit the streets. Let Rahul Gandhi come. Let him try to walk the talk. We will see what happens.”
R. Ashoka was equally critical. “Rahul Gandhi is mindless,” he said bluntly. “The Lok Sabha elections were conducted under the Congress government in the state. Most of the election officers were their appointees—relatives of ministers and party loyalists. Why didn’t they speak then? Why now?”
He further accused the Congress of orchestrating the entire controversy to stir public emotion ahead of the Bihar elections. “This is all drama, a diversion tactic. What legal authority does the government have to allow Rahul Gandhi’s rally when they stop every other group from marching? We are pushed into Freedom Park for every protest. Will they now allow Gandhi to parade across Bengaluru?” he thundered.
Ashoka warned of serious political repercussions if the Congress continued to exploit democratic rights selectively. “If Rahul Gandhi is given a free hand to stage such processions under false pretenses, then we too will mobilize and hit the streets. There will be a political fight,” he concluded.
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