The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its criticism of the Congress party’s ongoing ‘Vote Chori’ campaign after a prominent psephologist publicly apologized for errors in his recent election analysis that fueled the Congress narrative.
The ‘Vote Chori’ campaign, which alleges large-scale electoral malpractice and vote-rigging by the BJP, has been a central theme of Congress’s strategy in recent months. However, the campaign’s momentum has taken a hit following the apology by Dr. Arvind Mehra, a respected election analyst whose data had been widely cited by Congress leaders.
Dr. Mehra acknowledged inaccuracies in his projections and clarified that there was no conclusive evidence of systematic vote theft favoring the BJP. “I regret the confusion my earlier analysis may have caused,” he said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Seizing the opportunity, BJP leaders accused Congress of deliberately spreading misinformation to destabilize public faith in the democratic process.
“Their ‘Vote Chori’ campaign was built on shaky grounds and unfounded claims,” BJP spokesperson Rajesh Kumar said. “Now that the truth is out, it’s clear that Congress tried to manipulate facts to mislead voters and foment unrest.”
The BJP further criticized Congress for refusing to accept accountability and continuing to push divisive narratives despite evidence disproving their allegations.
Political experts say that the controversy highlights the dangers of politicizing electoral data without rigorous verification. Dr. Suman Rao, a political analyst, remarked, “Election analysis must be impartial and factual. When political parties weaponize psephological errors, it undermines public trust.”
Congress leaders, however, have maintained their stance, asserting that concerns over electoral fairness remain valid and that the apology doesn’t negate broader systemic issues.
“While we respect Dr. Mehra’s clarification, the fight against electoral malpractice is ongoing,” said Congress spokesperson Priya Nair. “Our movement is about protecting democracy, not political point-scoring.”
The BJP has called on the Election Commission of India to take stronger action against false narratives and to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
With national elections approaching, the battle over voter trust and election credibility is expected to intensify, as both major parties seek to consolidate support and counter each other’s narratives.
