A day after INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav wrapped up the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, the BJP hit out at the Congress, alleging that its leader Pawan Khera possessed two active voter identity cards –Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)– in separate constituencies under New Delhi.
However, the Congress spokesperson, in his response, claimed the allegation highlights the Election Commission of India (EC)’s shortcomings — the issue at the centre of the opposition-led ‘vote chori’ campaign.
VIDEO | Delhi: Reacting to BJP leader Amit Malviya’s post on ‘X’, Congress leader Pawan Khera says, “I came to know from him only that I have a second EPIC card. I had applied to remove it in 2016-17, but it seems that didn’t happen, and the Election Commission is to be blamed… pic.twitter.com/KYNiLiqRoP
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 2, 2025
The fresh exchange of attacks comes amid the Congress’ allegation that the BJP has colluded with the poll authority to manipulate elections. It coincides with the EC’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar slated for the Assembly polls in November this year.
On Tuesday, BJP leader Amit Malviya took to X to level allegations against Khera. “Pawan Khera, Congress spokesperson—who never misses a chance to flaunt his proximity to the Gandhis—holds two active EPIC numbers (in Jangpura and New Delhi Assembly Constituencies, falling under East Delhi and New Delhi Lok Sabha seats respectively),” he wrote.
Rahul Gandhi screamed “Vote Chori” from the rooftops. But just like he forgot to mention that his mother, Sonia Gandhi, enlisted herself in India’s voter list even before becoming an Indian citizen, it has now emerged that Pawan Khera, Congress spokesperson—who never misses a… pic.twitter.com/IkGFlUhuWk
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2025
‘This is the issue we have been raising’: Pawan Khera
The Congress spokesperson slammed the ruling party and blamed the poll body for the discrepancy. Khera, in a statement, said he had applied for the second card to be removed back in 2016-17. He said ‘it didn’t happen’.
“I came to know from him only that I have a second EPIC card. I had applied to remove it in 2016-17, but it seems that didn’t happen, and the Election Commission is to be blamed for this. What Anurag Thakur did, Amit Malviya replicated – they both wanted to target us, but ended up targeting the Election Commission. This is the issue we have been raising; this is what Rahul Gandhi is saying. Now I want to know if my vote was misused in Delhi and went to the BJP. I want CCTV footage…,” Khera told PTI.
The Voter Adhikar Rally was joined by several INDIA bloc leaders including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin of the DMK and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
In the final leg on Monday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi repeated his slogan of “Vote chor, gaddi chhor (The thief of votes, give up the chair)”.
“Ye naara chal gaya hai (This slogan has hit home)… I want to caution the youth of Bihar that vote theft would mean the taking away of your rights, as well as of reservation, employment and good education. The forces that had killed Mahatma Gandhi are trying to kill the Constitution of Gandhi,” he added.
