Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Government of “Capturing Institutions,” Vows Retrospective Change to Law Protecting EC Officials

December 9, 2025

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the BJP-led government of “capturing institutions including the Election Commission” during the Lok Sabha debate on Electoral Reforms.

He said that when a Congress-led government comes to power, it will retrospectively amend the law that grants immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) for decisions taken while in office.
“We will find you,” he warned. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged that the Election Commission has no response to the concerns he raised regarding bogus voters in electoral rolls across different states.

He proposed key electoral reforms, including providing political parties with a machine-readable voter list a month before polls, withdrawing the rule that allows destruction of video footage after 45 days, granting access to the architecture of Electronic Voting Machines, and altering the composition of the selection committee for appointing the CEC and ECs.

Clause 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 currently provides immunity to top poll officials from legal action for decisions made while in office. The Election Commission had earlier revised guidelines to retain video footage and photographs only for 45 days after results, unless an election petition is filed.

Allegations of Capture of Central Agencies and Institutions

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his charge that the BJP-led government has captured institutions such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate. He said this was part of a larger project by the RSS to take control of India’s institutional framework.
“I am saying that institutions of India are captured… the project of the RSS was to capture the institutional framework of the country,” he said, adding that intelligence agencies and financial enforcement bodies were being leveraged to target critics and opposition voices.

He also claimed that Vice Chancellors were being appointed not based on merit but allegiance to a particular ideological organisation. Gandhi faced frequent interruptions from BJP MPs, who accused him of veering off the subject of electoral reforms.

Critique of RSS Ideology and Historical References

Gandhi argued that the RSS does not believe in equality and supports a hierarchical worldview. He said the organisation is disturbed by the idea that every Indian should be equal irrespective of religion, community or language.
He also drew a historical reference to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, stating that after the killing by Nathuram Godse, “the next step of the project was the wholesale capture of India’s institutional framework.”

Khadi as a Symbol of India’s Unity

Rahul Gandhi began his address by reflecting on Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on Khadi. He described Khadi as a symbol of India’s people, culture and collective strength. He compared the threads in a fabric—none superior to another—to the diverse citizens who collectively form the nation.
“In the same way, our nation is also a fabric made up of 1.4 billion people… woven together by the vote,” he said, emphasising the foundational importance of electoral democracy.