What is the fuss about?

1. Clear margin of victory
2. Baseless allegations
3. Hypocrisy and deflection
4. Election Commission oversaw the vote

Integrity of election in question

1. INDIA Alliance had reportedly secured 315 votes; only 300 showed—suggesting likely cross-voting
2. 15 invalid votes (5 from INDIA bloc) raise red flags about voting process
3. The secrecy of the ballot allows manipulation without consequences or transparency
4. BJP has been accused in the past of using ED/CBI to pressure opposition leaders—this pattern may continue
5. Allegations suggest that external pressures (e.g. threats, inducements) might have changed votes

Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of vote manipulation have drawn sharp criticism, with the BJP dismissing them as baseless. A BJP spokesperson emphasized their rigorous campaign strategy, which included a two-day workshop and personalized outreach to MPs, contrasting this with the opposition's lack of coordination

As India welcomes its new Vice President CP Radha Krishnan, the win has ignited a political firestorm, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging "vote chori" (vote theft), pointing to possible cross-voting within the opposition’s India Alliance. The NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate secured a decisive victory with 452 votes, surpassing expectations by 14 votes in a secret ballot election. The opposition’s candidate, Justice Sudarshan Reddy garnered 300 votes, falling short of the 315 votes Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed the alliance had secured before the election. This discrepancy, coupled with 15 invalid votes, has fuelled speculation that at least 10 MPs from the India Alliance may have voted for the NDA’s candidate. Sources suggest that 10 of the invalid votes belonged to the NDA, with five from the INDIA Alliance, raising questions about the opposition’s unity.

Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, echoed these sentiments, with the party's Kerala unit posting on X at 7:57 p.m. yesterday, hinting at irregularities in the poll process shortly after the results were announced.

Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of vote manipulation have drawn sharp criticism, with the BJP dismissing them as baseless. A BJP spokesperson emphasized that even without the 14 additional votes, CP Radha Krishna would have won with 423 votes, well above the required 377. He also emphasized their rigorous campaign strategy, which included a two-day workshop and personalized outreach to MPs, contrasting this with the opposition's apparent lack of coordination. BJP termed the opposition as “in a disarray”, accusing Gandhi of undermining democratic processes by alleging foul play without evidence. Congress spokespersons however defended Gandhi’s claims, suggesting that MPs may have been swayed by external influences, a tactic he alleged the BJP has used in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka. However they acknowledged the lack of concrete proof due to the secret ballot process. Allegations of cross-voting have also targeted MPs from parties like Shiv Sena (UBT), JMM, and the Amati Party, though all have denied the charges. A leader from Shiv Sena (UBT), called the accusations speculative, noting that secret ballots make it impossible to confirm cross-voting. “No party will admit their MPs defected; it’s embarrassing,” he said.

Another Congress leader alleged that the BJP employs pressure tactics, including using agencies like the ED and CBI, to sway opposition MPs. He questioned why the Election Commission of India (ECI) doesn’t disclose who voted for whom, suggesting that transparency could resolve the controversy. A pro-BJP senior journalist however refuted these allegations criticizing Rahul Gandhi’s claims as akin to a student blaming external factors for a poor exam performance. He highlighted Gandhi’s absence during the election, questioning his leadership credibility.

The debate has intensified tensions between the Congress and BJP, with the latter accusing Gandhi of deflecting blame for the opposition’s internal divisions. BJP referenced a Madras High Court ruling that dismissed similar vote-rigging claims as “vague” and lacking evidence, imposing a fine on petitioners for wasting judicial time. As the war of words continues, the election outcome underscores the fragility of the India Alliance’s cohesion. With the BJP celebrating a clear victory, questions linger about the opposition’s ability to maintain unity ahead of future electoral battles. The public, having heard both sides, is left to draw its own conclusions about the integrity of the vice-presidential election.