BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi over 'vote chori' claims, cites poll data

The BJP on Friday questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations of 'vote chori', arguing that the NDA's electoral success rate was higher during the tenure of former chief election commissioner V S Sampath than under incumbent CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

In a post on X, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the NDA had won 75% of the elections held during Sampath's tenure, compared with around 66% under Kumar.

Sampath was appointed CEC during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and served as the 18th chief election commissioner from June 11, 2012, to January 15, 2015.


"NDA's winning strike rate under Gyanesh Kumar as CEC is less than that under V S Sampath as CEC," Bhandari said.

Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, he asked whether Sonia Gandhi was committing 'vote chori' for the BJP, referring to the Congress leader's allegations that the NDA had benefited under Kumar's tenure.

Bhandari also said that the data contradicted Gandhi's claims that the NDA had been favoured under the incumbent CEC.

Gyanesh Kumar was appointed an election commissioner on March 15, 2024, and took charge as India's 26th chief election commissioner on February 19, 2025.

(With PTI inputs)