Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched his most direct attack on the Election Commission yet - over allegations of massive voter fraud in collusion with the BJP - and delivered a thinly-veiled threat; "Think twice before attacking the Constitution. We will catch you, one by one. It will take time. But we will..."
"The Election Commission needs to understand one thing... if you don't provide us with data (i.e., voter lists and poll booth video recordings over the past decade)... you cannot hide," he raged in Bengaluru.
"Yesterday we proved, 100 per cent, the Election Commission and the BJP committed theft of votes..." the Congress MP said this afternoon at a city rally, "One day, you will face the opposition."
And today, he continued, the EC website had gone offline in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The focus of Mr Gandhi's remarks, yesterday and today, has been seen as Bihar, which votes later this year and where there is controversy over the EC's 'special intensive revision' of the voter list.
Meanwhile, the Congress leader also snapped back at the EC's demand he swear an oath over his allegations, pointing out he had already sworn an oath to the Constitution as an MP.
"The EC asked me to file an affidavit and give the information (about alleged voter fraud) under oath... but I have taken an oath, inside the Parliament holding the Constitution."
Sources told NDTV the poll body demanded Mr Gandhi swear that oath, or at least submit a signed affidavit with his allegations, because replies to such charges are 'disowned' by the Congress leader.
"... in the past, Rahul Gandhi has never sent any self-signed letter (and) whatever reply we give is to other entities, and everytime he disowns it. For example, he raised the Maharashtra issue in December. Some lawyer wrote to us and our reply is on the website. But Rahul Gandhi says we never replied."
Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Chori' Charge
Mr Gandhi's fresh offensive followed sensational allegations from 24 hours ago.
PowerPoint presentations packed with numbers claimed the EC and the BJP had colluded to 'steal' 1.02 lakh votes to win a single seat in last year's Maharashtra election - in which his Congress and its allies were thumped, months after sweeping the state's Lok Sabha seats.
READ | Rahul Gandhi's "Voter Fraud" Powerpoint At INDIA Bloc Dinner Meet
This morning Mr Gandhi expanded on his allegation.
He said one crore 'new' voters, i.e., people who did not vote in the April-May Lok Sabha election, turned out for the state poll four months later. Mr Gandhi also claimed a majority of these 'new' voters were listed as "residing in one-bedroom house owned by BJP leaders".
"The Constitution gives the right to every person to vote... but, in the last election, a question arose before us... in Maharashtra the INDIA bloc won the Lok Sabha election but, four months, later the BJP wins the Assembly poll... this was shocking," he declared.
"Vote theft is happening in Karnataka too... duplicate voting is in Uttar Pradesh also."
READ | Rahul Gandhi Shares Karnataka "Votes Stolen Proof", BJP Says "Bogus"
Mr Gandhi's ferocious offensive was slapped back by both the EC and the BJP.
'Give Proof Or Else...': EC, BJP Hit Back
The Election Commission demanded Mr Gandhi submit proof of his charges or withdraw his allegations, while the BJP's Amit Malviya scoffed at the Congress leader, saying, "... he has no case and (is) indulging in political theatre... only to obfuscate facts, plant doubts in people's minds, and tarnish the image of a constitutional body entrusted with free and fair elections."
EC sources reiterated their position this morning. "If Rahul Gandhi believes his analysis and that the allegations are true... he should have no problem signing his declaration."
READ | "Absurd Analysis": Poll Body Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Voter Fraud Charge
The BJP's Karnataka unit fired a detailed counterattack Friday morning, hours before Mr Gandhi's big speech at Bengaluru's Freedom Park, accusing the Congress of involvement in multiple corruption scandals and demanding he apologise to the people of Karnataka.
"You are visiting Bengaluru.. to take part in a demonstration against the EC. You have every right to participate in any protest on any issue... the BJP has nothing to say on that. However,, the BJP demands a 'credible and convincing' reply to the following questions. In fact, these questions have been bothering the people of Karnataka for a long time..."
The long X post then referred to the so-called Mysuru Urban Development Authority scam that has roiled Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife, Parvathi, and also referred to allegations a Congress leader siphoned Rs 187 crore meant for marginalised communities
READ | "Harmful To Our Democracy": BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi Over 'Poll Fraud'
The BJP also threw back a frequent Congress charge - that the saffron party wants to change the Constitution - by pointing to statements by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and attacked the ruling party over the stampede at Bengaluru's MA Chinnaswamy stadium while the city's IPL franchise, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, were celebrating their maiden title win.
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
