The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has asked Rahul Gandhi to give proof for his claim that a voter cast her ballot twice in last year’s Lok Sabha polls. Gandhi had shown a paper with tick marks, saying, “This ID has been used to vote twice, the tick marks were made by the polling booth officer.” The poll body said the paper was not official and the voter denied voting twice. It urged him to “provide evidence or stop making baseless accusations.” BJP has also challenged him to share the names of ineligible voters if he “truly values his credibility.” (PC: PTI)

A noticeable thaw in relations between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Indian National Congress has emerged as West Bengal gears up for its 2026 Assembly elections. With 42 MPs across the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, TMC now ranks third in opposition strength . A recent dinner hosted by Rahul Gandhi marked outreach toward broader INDIA bloc unity . TMC’s newly appointed Lok Sabha leader, Abhishek Banerjee, has taken a prominent role in coordination, including raising opposition to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) proposal . Banerjee’s active engagement signals a generational shift in alliance dynamics. (PC: India Today)  

The Election Commission (EC) rebuked Rahul Gandhi’s claims of widespread voter fraud as a “tired script,” likening them to previous allegations made by Kamal Nath in 2018—and rejected by the Supreme Court . In that case, Nath alleged multiple duplicate entries in Madhya Pradesh’s electoral rolls, but the SC noted those errors had already been rectified and refused to demand searchable voter lists . The EC challenged Gandhi to either substantiate his claims through the legal process (by filing objections or appeals) or publicly apologise. (PC: ANI)

India Today’s fact-checking team investigated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim of over 10,000 fake votes in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura constituency. Gandhi had alleged electoral fraud linked to Muni Reddy Garden addresses, accusing the BJP of manipulating EVMs and voter lists. However, India Today’s ground report and official data found no evidence supporting the claim of mass fake votes. Residents at the listed addresses confirmed their identities and eligibility. The report suggests Gandhi’s allegations may be politically motivated amid rising election tensions. The Election Commission has yet to respond officially to the controversy sparked by the viral claims.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on August 7 presented alleged proof of electoral malpractice in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura, citing over 100,000 “fake voters” based on duplications, forged addresses, bulk registrations, invalid photos, and misuse of Form 6 . The Election Commission responded by demanding a signed declaration under oath, complete with details like voter names and serial numbers, warning of legal repercussions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, 2023 . CEOs from Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana have also challenged Gandhi to formally affirm his claims before they take further action.  

The Election Commission has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to sign a formal declaration after he accused the EC of helping BJP “steal” votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He claimed over 1 lakh fake or invalid voters were added in Bangalore Central. Karnataka and Maharashtra election officers sent letters asking him to provide names and proof. They warned that false claims can lead to legal action. Rahul Gandhi responded, saying, “This is EC’s own data. I’m saying it publicly—take it as an oath.” He added that the EC has not denied the data or proven him wrong. (PC: Hindustan Times/Sanjeev Verma)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of colluding with the BJP to rig the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Presenting what he called “proof” of “vote chori,” Gandhi outlined five methods of alleged manipulation, including duplicate voter entries, fake addresses, bulk registrations, faulty voter photos, and Form 6 misuse . He cited dramatic voter roll spikes—over one crore new additions between Lok Sabha and Assembly elections—and claimed the EC obstructed transparency by denying digital data access and destroying CCTV footage . The BJP dismissed the allegations as baseless, while the CPI backed Gandhi’s demand for accountability. (PC: The Hindu)

India's Opposition launched a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Indian goods, citing continued oil imports from Russia. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called it “economic blackmail,” while Shashi Tharoor urged retaliatory tariffs. TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee called the move a “diplomatic failure” and mocked Modi’s “56-inch chest” rhetoric. Leaders from Shiv Sena, AIMIM, and others echoed concerns, warning of job losses and economic damage. The Ministry of External Affairs called the move “unfair and unjustified” and vowed to defend India’s interests. The tariffs take effect in 20 days. (PC: HT)

Following Donald Trump's announcement of an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports—raising the total to 50%—the Congress party launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X, stating: “Indira Gandhi looked Nixon in the eye. Not huglomacy!” He criticised Modi’s “personalised and headline-grabbing” diplomacy with Trump, calling it an “abysmal failure.” India called the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” asserting its right to energy security. Russia defended India, rejecting US pressure as illegal. The new tariffs, targeting India’s Russian oil trade, will take effect on August 27. (PC: India Today)

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee resigned as the party’s chief whip in Lok Sabha following fellow MP Mahua Moitra’s controversial “pig” jibe during a podcast. Moitra, reacting to Banerjee’s comments on her marriage to Pinaki Mishra, said, “You don’t wrestle with a pig because the pig likes it and you get dirty.” Banerjee condemned the remark as dehumanising and abusive, asserting that such language reflects toxic double standards. His resignation was accepted by the party, which appointed Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar as the new chief whip and Satabdi Roy as deputy leader. The episode has triggered a leadership reshuffle and exposed deep fissures within Trinamool’s parliamentary ranks.