Congress ‘vote-stealing’ claims false, opposition trying to cast doubt on election process, says minister AP

Health Minister and BJP leader Satya Kumar Yadav | Photo credit: File photo

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister and BJP leader Satya Kumar Yadav on Monday (September 28, 2026) accused Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, and some fledgling political parties of spreading false claims of “vote theft” in connection with the revision of electoral rolls.

Addressing the media at the BJP office in Vijayawada, Mr. Satya Kumar said that the opposition was trying to cast doubt on the election process to gain political mileage and cover up its electoral failures. He said the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls is not a new exercise and provides opportunities for verification and objections.

“Vote erasure is not an easy process,” he said, questioning the rationale behind allegations of “vote theft” without documentary evidence. Political parties could raise objections through prescribed mechanisms, including Form 7, if they had concerns about entries in electoral rolls, he said.

Referring to the claim that 13 lakh votes were deleted, Mr. Satya Kumar said that various categories of records, including deaths, address changes and duplicate records, required verification before drawing any conclusions. Eligible voters could apply through Form 6, while the online registration process made voter registration more transparent, he said.

He also pointed to the presence of political party agents at the booth level during elections and broadcasting in polling stations as safeguards in the electoral process.

Mr. Satya Kumar asked why similar objections were not raised in states where the Congress was in power. “Is it public support when they win the election and vote-stealing when the alliance wins?” he asked.

Criticizing Mr. Rahul Gandhi over the allegations regarding the election process, he said that the Congress was unable to accept its electoral defeats.

The minister also slammed former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for his comments on constitutional matters and urged eligible citizens to use the prescribed procedures to register their names and raise objections on electoral rolls.

Published – 28 Sep 2026 19:04 IST