EC slams Congress over ‘AI-generated’ video alleging vote theft in Bihar

The commission insisted that the state’s voter rolls are being compiled with full transparency.

The video, posted on Congress’ official handle on X, echoes allegations repeatedly made by party leader Rahul Gandhi.

It features a woman claiming that votes were “stolen” by marking living people as dead, an elderly man alleging that 80 fake voters were registered at his one-room house, and another man saying his voting rights had been taken away.

Each of these clips carried an ‘AI generated’ disclaimer.

The montage then calls for the removal of those “involved in the theft of votes,” while urging people to join Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar starting Sunday.

The yatra is part of Congress’ campaign against what it calls “vote theft” and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.

Hours later, the EC fact-checked the post, calling the video “a clear attempt to mislead the voters of Bihar.” It asserted that the SIR process was being conducted in accordance with the law, with the involvement of electoral officials, booth-level officers and political parties.

“Electoral rolls for each Assembly constituency of Bihar are being prepared as per law and with full transparency by the concerned SDM/ERO, full participation of over 90,000 BLOs, and full participation of all electors,” the poll body said on X.

It added that more than 1.6 lakh booth-level agents from 12 recognised political parties — including the Congress — were actively involved.

Charges and defence

Rahul Gandhi, who has accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP to enable voter fraud, had earlier presented what he said was evidence of irregularities during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Citing an internal party investigation, Gandhi alleged mass voter manipulation in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Karnataka.

The Congress has also alleged that during the ongoing revision in Bihar, names of living voters have been struck off the rolls.

The dispute reached the Supreme Court this week.

On Thursday, the court directed the EC to disclose the names of 65 lakh people removed from Bihar’s rolls and specify the reasons — including the 22 lakh entries the poll body says belong to deceased persons.

Other grounds cited earlier by the EC include voters shifting permanently, duplication across constituencies, or names not being found during verification.

The commission has repeatedly maintained that the exercise is meant to cleanse the rolls and ensure “every eligible voter” is included.

Responding to Gandhi’s accusations, it said the Congress leader should produce verifiable evidence and refrain from using terms like “vote chori,” which it described as “an assault on the integrity of poll officials.”