BJP Hits Rahul Gandhi After Karnataka Survey Backs ECI & EVMs

January 2, 2026

New Delhi — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “lying” about the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The criticism comes in response to a recent survey released by the Karnataka government showing high levels of public trust in the electoral process and voting technology.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Karnataka trust EVMs, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, “… Rahul Gandhi blames the EVMs and the Election Commission after losing the election… In Karnataka, a survey revealed that people consider EVMs safe and trust them… Each time Rahul Gandhi… pic.twitter.com/TXguMFZdBd

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2026

The Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority a state government body conducted a survey titled Evaluation of Endline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Citizens covering 5,100 respondents across 102 assembly constituencies in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru and Kalaburagi divisions. According to the findings, around 84–91% of participants said they believe elections in India are free and fair, while over 83% expressed trust in EVMs used in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In response to the survey, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader “keeps lying about the ECI and EVMs” and accused him of spreading misinformation about India’s electoral institutions. The BJP argued that the survey results contradict Gandhi’s repeated claims questioning the reliability of EVMs and alleging electoral manipulation, particularly in the context of the “vote chori” (vote theft) narrative he has promoted.

The saffron party described the strong public confidence in elections and EVMs as a “slap in the face of Congress”, asserting that the findings demonstrate widespread faith among voters in the integrity of India’s electoral system. BJP leaders also pointed out that the survey’s results show growing trust compared with previous years, with some divisions such as Kalaburagi recording especially high agreement.

However, the survey and the ensuing political exchange have drawn pushback. Leaders from the Congress and Karnataka government have questioned aspects of the survey, including whether the government directly commissioned it. Congress representatives emphasized that the findings should not be used for political point-scoring, especially as debates over voting methods and the accuracy of EVMs continue in certain quarters.

The issue resurfaces amid ongoing controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s past allegations regarding EVMs and electoral roll integrity. Last year, Gandhi had raised concerns about voter deletion and anomalies in electoral lists, prompting reactions from the Election Commission and state poll officials, including notices seeking evidence for his claims.

Supporters and critics alike see the new Karnataka survey as a crucial data point in the broader debate over electoral credibility one that political parties are actively leveraging ahead of key elections in 2026.