Rahul Gandhi used a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Tuesday to press his party's senior leadership on the "vote chori" (vote theft) issue. According to sources, he said he had raised the matter for two years with little initial backing from within the party, but that the majority now agrees with him. The remarks come amid a fresh controversy over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Body Content:

Rahul Gandhi Confronts Party Leaders at the CWC

The CWC is the Congress party's top decision making body. Days before the meeting, the 56-year-old leader had posted on social media that he likes swimming in the sea when it is rough, calling it just another kind of calm. At Tuesday's meeting, he reportedly applied that approach by raising uncomfortable questions before senior colleagues.

Sources said he reminded the gathering that he has spoken about vote theft for the past two years. In their account, he said some in his own party initially did not agree with him, but that after two years most now do. The quotes come from unnamed sources, not an official party statement.

"Preoccupied With Analysis"

Sources also said Gandhi felt many party leaders were too focused on analysis instead of forcefully raising the EVM issue. He reportedly asked them to take up the matter with confidence. A leader present, speaking off the record, said he named several leaders and signalled that they should align with the party's stance on SIR.

Background: The SIR Controversy

The meeting came about a week after an Indian Express report. It claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over ten months, from October 2025 to August 2026, to decisions and orders related to the SIR of electoral rolls. According to the report, many of those decisions were taken without their knowledge.

The Election Commission has defended its process. It said internal technical notes and written queries are standard in a multi-member body. It also said all final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously and had full legal sanction.

Calls for Protests

According to Congress sources, several senior leaders at the meeting suggested major protests and rallies over the reported dissent between Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other members of the Commission on the SIR process.

Divisions Within the Party

Sources indicated that opinion within Congress on the vote theft campaign is divided. Many leaders back Gandhi's allegations, while others are reportedly uncomfortable with the EVM issue and have not supported his stance. Sources said Gandhi is aware that some leaders have not backed his position on various issues, and that he has raised concerns about the conduct and attitude of party leaders at earlier CWC meetings.

Reported Monitoring of Leaders' Support

Sources also told NDTV that the party has recently changed its operating approach. They said leaders' backing for Gandhi's views is now being actively tracked, including their social media activity, whom they retweet and how they amplify his messaging. Sources said even those who disagree are being watched. These claims are unverified and attributed only to unnamed sources.

Analysis:
The developments point to two overlapping challenges for Congress. Externally, the party is trying to turn the SIR dissent report into a political campaign against the Election Commission. Internally, Gandhi's remarks suggest he wants a more unified and assertive stance on electoral integrity. Whether that message translates into coordinated street protests will depend on how the leadership resolves the reported differences.

Key Highlights / Bullet Points:

• Rahul Gandhi said at the Tuesday CWC meeting that he has raised "vote theft" for two years and that most of the party now agrees, according to sources.
• He reportedly criticised leaders for being too focused on analysis rather than pushing the EVM issue.
• An Indian Express report claimed Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times between October 2025 and August 2026 to SIR related decisions.
• The Election Commission says internal notes are routine and that all final SIR decisions were unanimous and legally valid.
• Senior Congress leaders reportedly suggested major protests and rallies on the issue.
• Sources describe divided opinion within Congress on the vote theft campaign.
• Unverified reports say the party is monitoring leaders' support for Gandhi's stance, including on social media.

Professional Disclaimer & Third Party Reference:

This article is compiled from publicly available reports by standard third party news sources, including NDTV and the Indian Express, and from information attributed to unnamed sources. The facts and statements presented are referenced from those sources and have not been independently verified by this publication. Claims about internal party discussions are attributed to sources and do not represent official statements unless stated. The Election Commission's position is reported as publicly clarified. Readers are advised to consult official statements and primary sources for confirmation.

Conclusion:
Rahul Gandhi's remarks at the CWC show that Congress is trying to make the vote theft and SIR issue central to its political messaging. The coming weeks will show whether the party turns the debate into organised protests and whether the reported internal differences narrow. Stay tuned for further updates, and share your views in the comments below.