Rahul Gandhi Faces BJP Backlash After Woman in ‘Vote-Chori’ Video Denies Allegations

November 5, 2025

New Delhi: In a dramatic political twist, a woman whose video was shown by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to allege “vote-chori” (vote theft) during his press conference on the Haryana Assembly elections has denied any wrongdoing by the BJP — sparking a sharp counter-attack from the ruling party.

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Wednesday accused Rahul Gandhi of “spreading fake news” and “misleading the country.”

“The lady from Haryana shown in Rahul Gandhi’s presentation has denied ‘vote-chori’. Rahul Gandhi lied and used her video wrongly,” Bhandari said in a video post, branding the Congress leader “anti-democracy.”

Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations and Video Presentation

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi had addressed the media, launching a fierce attack on the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI). He alleged widespread electoral malpractice in Haryana and presented video clips purportedly supporting his claims.

One of the videos featured a woman identifying herself as Anjali Tyagi from Malikpur village in the Rai Assembly constituency. In the clip, she stated that while she had voted in the Lok Sabha elections, her name was missing from the rolls during the Assembly polls, forcing her to reapply for a voter card — which she later received in June.

Woman’s Rebuttal Sparks BJP Counter-Strike

However, in a new video shared by BJP leaders, the same woman refuted the Congress narrative.

“I don’t feel BJP has done vote-chori,” she said. “My vote was cut by mistake. There are 140 crore people… vote chori nahi hui, vote cut gaya hoga (the vote was not stolen, it might have been cancelled).”

She also defended the Election Commission, saying she did not believe any deliberate malpractice took place.

BJP Turns Tables on Congress

The BJP quickly turned the clarification into a counter-attack, accusing the Congress of misusing citizens’ voices for political propaganda.

Bhandari claimed the incident exposed the Opposition’s attempt to “weaponise misinformation” and mislead the public about India’s democratic processes.

Congress Stands by Its Allegations

The Congress, meanwhile, has continued to allege irregularities in the Haryana polls, maintaining that voter roll manipulation and procedural lapses undermined the integrity of the elections.

The controversy has further intensified the post-election political battle in Haryana — with both national parties trading charges over democracy, truth, and electoral ethics.