RAHUL GANDHI URGES CEC GYANESH KUMAR TO TURN APPROVER AMID VOTE THEFT ALLEGATIONS

September 25, 2026

NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi urged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to “turn approver” amid allegations of irregularities in electoral processes. Gandhi claimed that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah could eventually face investigation over alleged electoral wrongdoing.

Speaking at a media presentation, Gandhi referred to reported objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding decisions and software-related changes within the Election Commission. The poll panel has maintained that such exchanges are part of its normal internal deliberations and that final decisions were unanimous.

Gandhi presented slides featuring political leaders, officials and public figures under the label “Destroyers of Democracy”, alleging that electoral integrity had been compromised through voter-list changes and electronic voting mechanisms. These allegations remain contested and have not been established as judicial findings.

A senior Congress leader said the party would submit fresh notices in both Houses of Parliament seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner. Congress has also announced protests in state capitals, while the CPI, CPM and CPI(ML) Liberation have announced demonstrations between September 26 and October 2. The BJP rejected Gandhi’s allegations, with spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi criticising his remarks.