Amit Shah's Address

Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a strong rebuttal in the Lok Sabha on December 10, 2025, attributing the Congress party's recent electoral defeats to failures in leadership rather than any irregularities with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) or allegations of vote rigging. Shah challenged the opposition's narrative of "vote chori" (vote theft), asserting that Congress's repeated losses stemmed from its own internal issues and not from manipulation of the electoral process.

During a heated debate on electoral reforms, Shah accused the Congress party of deflecting blame by peddling a false narrative of vote theft whenever it faced electoral setbacks. He emphasized that the people's mandate is the true reflection of democracy, and dubbing the poll process as "vote chori" is an insult to the voters. Shah pointed out that Congress leaders have a history of manipulating elections themselves, citing examples from the eras of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi, where he alleged there were instances of vote manipulation and institutional capture.

Shah further argued that the Congress party’s opposition to key government initiatives—such as the abrogation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the abolition of triple talaq, and the construction of the Ram Mandir—had contributed to its electoral decimation. He warned that continued opposition to government policies like the "one nation, one election" proposal and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls would lead to further losses in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Rahul Gandhi's Counter

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi countered Shah's remarks, accusing the BJP of turning the Election Commission into a tool for electoral manipulation. Gandhi challenged Shah to debate his three recent press conferences where he raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Gandhi argued that the BJP's control over constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission, had undermined the fairness of elections.

The exchange led to heated arguments in the Lok Sabha, culminating in an opposition walkout as tensions escalated between the two parties. BJP MPs accused Rahul Gandhi of not listening to Shah's arguments and dismissed his allegations as baseless.

Supreme Court Verdict on Bail Pleas

Amid the political drama, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots UAPA case. The case, which has been a flashpoint for debates on civil liberties and national security, remains under judicial scrutiny. The verdict is expected to have significant implications for the ongoing discourse on dissent and the rule of law in India.

Broader Implications

The Lok Sabha debate underscores the deepening divide between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress on the integrity of India's electoral system. Shah's assertion that electoral defeats are due to leadership failures rather than institutional manipulation highlights the BJP's narrative of strong governance and accountability. Conversely, Rahul Gandhi's accusations reflect the opposition's concerns about the politicization of key institutions and the erosion of democratic norms.

The Supreme Court's upcoming decision in the UAPA case will be closely watched as it could shape the legal landscape for future cases involving national security and civil liberties.

These developments reflect the ongoing contest for legitimacy and public trust in India's democratic institutions, with both parties staking their positions on the integrity of elections and the role of constitutional bodies.