India: PM Modi and Amit Shah respond to INDIA bloc vote-theft allegations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have issued public statements aimed at delegitimizing allegations of electoral roll manipulation raised by the Opposition INDIA bloc. The opposition has been campaigning against what they term “vote-theft” under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

During the legislative council elections held in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Karnataka, Prime Minister Modi used social media to mock the Congress party, suggesting they would win zero seats. However, after the counting of ballot papers, the Congress party secured one seat and emerged as the largest party with 16 of the 28 MLC seats up for election.

The BJP faced losses in several key areas, including the Varanasi Graduates’ and Teachers’ Constituencies, which were won by the Samajwadi Party. Additionally, the Congress won the Graduates’ Constituency seat in Nagpur, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal won the Patna Teachers’ Constituency seat.