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Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at the Election Commission after meeting several residents of Bihar who claimed they had been officially declared “dead” in voter lists despite being alive.

 

In a video posted on social media, Gandhi was seen sharing tea with the group, saying: “There have been many interesting experiences in life, but I never got the chance to have tea with ‘dead people.’ For this unique experience, thank you Election Commission!”

 

The clip, lasting over three minutes, showed Gandhi speaking to villagers who alleged that their names were removed from electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Some said they discovered the anomaly when checking the Election Commission’s records.

 

One villager told Gandhi there were “at least 50 such cases in a single panchayat,” particularly in the Raghupur constituency of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Others urged the Congress and the Mahagathbandhan alliance to “save Bihar” from electoral malpractices, a request Gandhi assured them he would act on.

Also read: 'Abhi picture baaki hai': Rahul teases EC after SIR protest row

 

The episode comes against the backdrop of Gandhi’s recent accusations of “vote theft” by the Election Commission during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On 7 August, he alleged the elections were “choreographed” to benefit the BJP, which he claimed appeared “immune to anti-incumbency.”

 

Citing the case of Mahadevapura in Karnataka, Gandhi alleged manipulation involving over 100,000 votes, which he said cost the Congress expected wins in several constituencies.

 

The Election Commission, responding to the charges, said on Monday that Gandhi “still has time” to formally substantiate his allegations or apologise. The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has also asked him to provide evidence to back his claims.

 

The controversy over the SIR process in poll-bound Bihar has added to tensions, with opposition parties warning of further erosion of trust in the democratic process if such irregularities are not addressed.