At a press conference addressing the SIR policy, Rahul Gandhi questioned the BJP’s apparent lack of vulnerability to anti-incumbency, a factor that usually impacts all parties in a democracy. Gandhi used the hashtag #VoteChori to bring attention to the issue. He contended that the BJP uniquely escapes the impact of anti-incumbency. Gandhi cited the outcomes of elections in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, where results starkly contrasted with pre-election polls. He noted that his own internal polling data supported these observations, reinforcing a pattern of unexpected results. The focus was on the Maharashtra elections, where Gandhi alleged irregularities, including a large influx of new voters in a short period and a surge in voter turnout after 5 PM. He stated that there was a discrepancy in voter numbers between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha, with one crore new voters. He also expressed strong concern over the Election Commission’s denial of voter lists and the destruction of CCTV footage.
