The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of large-scale voter fraud and challenged him to either formally verify his claims or apologise to the nation. Accusing him of repeating an ‘old political script’, the poll body said in a statement that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has raised “baseless” charges similar to those made in 2018 by then Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath, which were dismissed by the Supreme Court. “At his recent press conference, Rahul repeated a tired script. In 2018, it was then Kamal Nath, the then President of MPCC; today, it’s the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha playing the same tune,” the EC said.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2018, Congress leaders attempted to mislead the court by producing documents from a private website to claim errors in electoral rolls, including instances where “the same face was shown again for as many as 36 voters.” The EC said those defects had been rectified months earlier and the details shared with the party.&nbsp;“The Court refused to accept the prayer of Kamal Nath. Now, in 2025, they, being aware that the same trick cannot be played in court, are trying to mislead the people by claiming irregularities in the electoral rolls,” it added.&nbsp;<h2>‘Trying to sensationalise issue with baseless claims in media’</h2>&nbsp;The commission referred to a specific case of one name of Aditya Srivastava, which Rahul claimed appeared in three different states. “In fact, [this] was rectified months ago,” it said. It further reminded the Congress leader that the Kamal Nath judgment had “settled” the position on machine-readable electoral rolls, and accused him of disregarding the Supreme Court’s decisions.&nbsp;“Law provides a specific procedure for both making objections to the roll and for making an appeal. Instead of availing the legal processes, he tried to sensationalise the issue by making baseless claims in the media,” the EC said.&nbsp;“If Rahul believes in his analysis and believes that his allegations against the EC are true, he should have respect for the law and sign the Declaration, or apologise to the nation for raising absurd allegations against the EC.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The chief electoral officers (CEOs) of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana had asked Rahul to submit the names of voters he believes were wrongly included or removed, along with a signed oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Rahul alleged ‘vote chori’ in Karnataka constituency</h2>&nbsp;On Thursday, Rahul alleged “vote chori” in a Karnataka constituency involving 1,00,250 votes and irregularities in the rolls.Dismissing the EC’s demand for a signed declaration, he said, “I am a politician; what I say to the people is my word. I am saying it to the people publicly, take it as an oath. Interestingly, they haven’t denied the information.”&nbsp;He accused the EC of colluding with the BJP to “undermine democracy” and warned polling officials allegedly involved of consequences if the Opposition came to power.He also claimed that the EC was “destroying evidence” by limiting the preservation of CCTV and webcasting footage to 45 days unless election results were legally challenged.&nbsp;“It is the 21st century; you can keep as much data as you want in a hard drive, even 10 years old data, but the Election Commission wants to destroy the CCTV footage in 45 days,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>EC issues detailed rebuttal&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;The ECI issued a detailed rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi’s five-question challenge, where he accused the poll body of bias, tampering, and shielding the ruling party. It said if Rahul Gandhi does not sign the declaration, it would mean that he does not believe in his analysis, resultant conclusions and is making absurd allegations.&nbsp;&nbsp;At a press conference on Thursday, Rahul had presented what he called an “atom bomb” of proofs of the ECI resorting to “vote chori”.&nbsp;&nbsp;BJP’s Amit Malviya scoffed at the Congress leader and said, “... he (is) indulging in political theatre only to obfuscate facts, plant doubts in people’s minds, and tarnish the image of a constitutional body entrusted with free and fair elections.”

In its sharp rebuttal, the Election Commission of India said that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has raised “baseless” charges similar to those made in 2018 by then Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath, which were dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of large-scale voter fraud and challenged him to either formally verify his claims or apologise to the nation. Accusing him of repeating an ‘old political script’, the poll body said in a statement that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has raised “baseless” charges similar to those made in 2018 by then Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath, which were dismissed by the Supreme Court. “At his recent press conference, Rahul repeated a tired script. In 2018, it was then Kamal Nath, the then President of MPCC; today, it’s the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha playing the same tune,” the EC said. In 2018, Congress leaders attempted to mislead the court by producing documents from a private website to claim errors in electoral rolls, including instances where “the same face was shown again for as many as 36 voters.” The EC said those defects had been rectified months earlier and the details shared with the party. “The Court refused to accept the prayer of Kamal Nath. Now, in 2025, they, being aware that the same trick cannot be played in court, are trying to mislead the people by claiming irregularities in the electoral rolls,” it added. ‘Trying to sensationalise issue with baseless claims in media’ The commission referred to a specific case of one name of Aditya Srivastava, which Rahul claimed appeared in three different states. “In fact, [this] was rectified months ago,” it said. It further reminded the Congress leader that the Kamal Nath judgment had “settled” the position on machine-readable electoral rolls, and accused him of disregarding the Supreme Court’s decisions. “Law provides a specific procedure for both making objections to the roll and for making an appeal. Instead of availing the legal processes, he tried to sensationalise the issue by making baseless claims in the media,” the EC said. “If Rahul believes in his analysis and believes that his allegations against the EC are true, he should have respect for the law and sign the Declaration, or apologise to the nation for raising absurd allegations against the EC.” The chief electoral officers (CEOs) of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana had asked Rahul to submit the names of voters he believes were wrongly included or removed, along with a signed oath under Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Rahul alleged ‘vote chori’ in Karnataka constituency On Thursday, Rahul alleged “vote chori” in a Karnataka constituency involving 1,00,250 votes and irregularities in the rolls. Dismissing the EC’s demand for a signed declaration, he said, “I am a politician; what I say to the people is my word. I am saying it to the people publicly, take it as an oath. Interestingly, they haven’t denied the information.” He accused the EC of colluding with the BJP to “undermine democracy” and warned polling officials allegedly involved of consequences if the Opposition came to power. He also claimed that the EC was “destroying evidence” by limiting the preservation of CCTV and webcasting footage to 45 days unless election results were legally challenged. “It is the 21st century; you can keep as much data as you want in a hard drive, even 10 years old data, but the Election Commission wants to destroy the CCTV footage in 45 days,” he said. EC issues detailed rebuttal The ECI issued a detailed rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi’s five-question challenge, where he accused the poll body of bias, tampering, and shielding the ruling party. It said if Rahul Gandhi does not sign the declaration, it would mean that he does not believe in his analysis, resultant conclusions and is making absurd allegations. At a press conference on Thursday, Rahul had presented what he called an “atom bomb” of proofs of the ECI resorting to “vote chori”. BJP’s Amit Malviya scoffed at the Congress leader and said, “... he (is) indulging in political theatre only to obfuscate facts, plant doubts in people’s minds, and tarnish the image of a constitutional body entrusted with free and fair elections.”

In its sharp rebuttal, the Election Commission of India said that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has raised “baseless” charges similar to those made in 2018 by then Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath, which were dismissed by the Supreme Court.

‘Verify claims or apologise to nation’: EC slams Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote theft’ charge, cites 2018 SC verdict

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission to furnish by August 9 the details of around 65 lakh electors left out from the draft electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.&nbsp;A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh asked the counsel for the poll panel to furnish the details of deleted voters, the data which has been already shared with the political parties, and give a copy to the NGO, Association For Democratic Reforms.&nbsp;The NGO, which has challenged the June 24 order of the Election Commission directing for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, filed a fresh application seeking direction to the poll panel to publish the names of around 65 lakh deleted voters with the mention whether they are dead, permanently migrated or not considered for any other reason.&nbsp;The bench told advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, that the reason for deletion would come in subsequent time as it is now only a draft list.&nbsp;However, Bhushan contended that some political parties have been given a list of deleted voters but they have not further clarified whether the said voter is dead or migrated.&nbsp;The bench told the ECI's counsel, "We will see every voter likely to be affected and get the required information. You (ECI) file a reply by Saturday and let Mr Bhushan look at it and then we can see what is disclosed and what is not disclosed." Bhushan alleged that 75 percent of voters, who have filled the enumeration form have not furnished any supporting documents mentioned in the list of 11 documents and their names were included on the recommendation of Booth Level Officer (BLO) of the poll panel.&nbsp;The bench said it is commencing hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the June 24 order of the poll panel on August 12 and the NGO can make these averments on that day.&nbsp;Terming the Election Commission a constitutional authority deemed to act in accordance with law, the top court had said on July 29 that it will step in immediately if there is "mass exclusion" in the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar.&nbsp;It had fixed a timeline for considering a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission's SIR exercise in Bihar and said the hearing on the issue will be held on August 12 and 13.&nbsp;Earlier, observing there should be "en masse inclusion" instead of "en masse exclusion” in the ongoing SIR exercise of voters' list in poll-bound Bihar, the top court asked the Election Commission to continue accepting Aadhaar and voter ID documents.&nbsp;Underscoring the "presumption of genuineness" of the two documents, the top court also refused to stay the publication of the draft electoral roll in Bihar.&nbsp;The draft roll was published on August 1 and the final roll on September 30 amid opposition claims that the ongoing exercise will deprive crores of eligible citizens from their right to vote.&nbsp;On August 1, the poll panel came out with the much-anticipated 'draft electoral rolls' in Bihar, enlisting 7.24 crore voters but knocking off more than 65 lakh names, claiming that most of the persons concerned had died or migrated.&nbsp;The draft electoral rolls, prepared as part of the SIR, which has caused much controversy as the exercise was ordered with just a few months left for assembly polls, are available for voters online.&nbsp;The EC has said it was making available printed copies, district-wise, to representatives of political parties so that anomalies, if any, could be flagged during the 'claims and objections' phase, which would continue till September 1 before the 'final rolls' are published.&nbsp;The reasons cited by the EC for non-inclusion of previously registered voters in the draft rolls included death (22.34 lakh), "permanently shifted/absent" (36.28 lakh) and "already enrolled (at more than one places)" (7.01 lakh).&nbsp;The EC affidavit in the top court has justified its ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying it adds to the purity of the election by "weeding out ineligible persons" from the electoral rolls.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The draft roll was published on August 1 and the final roll on September 30 amid opposition claims that the ongoing exercise will deprive crores of eligible citizens from their right to vote.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission to furnish by August 9 the details of around 65 lakh electors left out from the draft electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh asked the counsel for the poll panel to furnish the details of deleted voters, the data which has been already shared with the political parties, and give a copy to the NGO, Association For Democratic Reforms. The NGO, which has challenged the June 24 order of the Election Commission directing for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, filed a fresh application seeking direction to the poll panel to publish the names of around 65 lakh deleted voters with the mention whether they are dead, permanently migrated or not considered for any other reason. The bench told advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, that the reason for deletion would come in subsequent time as it is now only a draft list. However, Bhushan contended that some political parties have been given a list of deleted voters but they have not further clarified whether the said voter is dead or migrated. The bench told the ECI's counsel, "We will see every voter likely to be affected and get the required information. You (ECI) file a reply by Saturday and let Mr Bhushan look at it and then we can see what is disclosed and what is not disclosed." Bhushan alleged that 75 percent of voters, who have filled the enumeration form have not furnished any supporting documents mentioned in the list of 11 documents and their names were included on the recommendation of Booth Level Officer (BLO) of the poll panel. The bench said it is commencing hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the June 24 order of the poll panel on August 12 and the NGO can make these averments on that day. Terming the Election Commission a constitutional authority deemed to act in accordance with law, the top court had said on July 29 that it will step in immediately if there is "mass exclusion" in the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. It had fixed a timeline for considering a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission's SIR exercise in Bihar and said the hearing on the issue will be held on August 12 and 13. Earlier, observing there should be "en masse inclusion" instead of "en masse exclusion” in the ongoing SIR exercise of voters' list in poll-bound Bihar, the top court asked the Election Commission to continue accepting Aadhaar and voter ID documents. Underscoring the "presumption of genuineness" of the two documents, the top court also refused to stay the publication of the draft electoral roll in Bihar. The draft roll was published on August 1 and the final roll on September 30 amid opposition claims that the ongoing exercise will deprive crores of eligible citizens from their right to vote. On August 1, the poll panel came out with the much-anticipated 'draft electoral rolls' in Bihar, enlisting 7.24 crore voters but knocking off more than 65 lakh names, claiming that most of the persons concerned had died or migrated. The draft electoral rolls, prepared as part of the SIR, which has caused much controversy as the exercise was ordered with just a few months left for assembly polls, are available for voters online. The EC has said it was making available printed copies, district-wise, to representatives of political parties so that anomalies, if any, could be flagged during the 'claims and objections' phase, which would continue till September 1 before the 'final rolls' are published. The reasons cited by the EC for non-inclusion of previously registered voters in the draft rolls included death (22.34 lakh), "permanently shifted/absent" (36.28 lakh) and "already enrolled (at more than one places)" (7.01 lakh). The EC affidavit in the top court has justified its ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying it adds to the purity of the election by "weeding out ineligible persons" from the electoral rolls. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The draft roll was published on August 1 and the final roll on September 30 amid opposition claims that the ongoing exercise will deprive crores of eligible citizens from their right to vote.

Supreme Court asks ECI to provide details on reasons for deleting 6.5 million voters from electoral roll

The Election Commission of India on Sunday strongly refuted Congress MP P Chidambaram’s allegations of trying to change the electoral character and pattern of the states and claiming that 6.5 lakh new voters were added to voter lists in Tamil Nadu and called them “misleading and baseless”. Responding to the allegations, the EC said, “There is no need for political leaders to spread false information with respect to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being conducted by the ECl at the national level.”The poll agency added that such information is being “deliberately peddled in the media with a view to obstruct the exercise.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“As far as voters who have permanently shifted from Bihar to other states and are ordinarily resident in those states, the exact figures can be known only after the SIR has been conducted,” it added.&nbsp;<h2>‘SIR not yet rolled out in TN, absurd to connect it with Bihar’</h2>&nbsp;“The Constitution of India, read with the RP Act of 1950, envisages the enrollment of voters with respect to the constituency in which they are ordinarily resident. It is for the voters to come forward and get enrolled in the constituency where they are eligible. But, it is noticed that some false figures are being floated about the enrollment of 6.5 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu. SIR has not yet been rolled out in TN. It is therefore absurd to connect the SIR exercise in Bihar with TN. Such peddling of false statements with respect to SIR should be avoided,” the EC clarified.&nbsp;Chidambaram had questioned EC for adding approximately 6.5 lakh “migrant workers” to the electoral roll of Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">❌ The statements made are Misleading and Baseless<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ECIFactCheck?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ECIFactCheck</a> ✅Read in detail in the image attached 👇 <a href="https://t.co/gRVakP610s">https://t.co/gRVakP610s</a> <a href="https://t.co/gKU9a1gB0t">pic.twitter.com/gKU9a1gB0t</a>&mdash; Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ECISVEEP/status/1951962271606780383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>‘Alarming, illegal,’ Chidambaram alleged voter shifts</h2> In a post on X, Chidambaram wrote, “The SIR exercise is getting curiouser and curiouser. While 65 lakh voters are in danger of being disenfranchised in Bihar, reports of ‘adding’ 6.5 lakh persons as voters in Tamil Nadu is alarming and patently illegal. Calling them ‘permanently migrated’ is an insult to the migrant workers and a gross interference in the right of the electorate of Tamil Nadu to elect a government of its choice.” Tagging Tamil Nadu's chief minister's office in the post, the former home minister accused EC of abusing its power and “trying to change the electoral character and patterns” of states. He further said that the abuse of power must be “fought politically and legally”. <h2>EC issues notice to Tejashwi, asks him to hand over EPIC card</h2> The Election Commission on Sunday issued a notice to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav after it was found that he allegedly has two different EPIC numbers, RAB0456228 and RAB2916120. The EC clarified that the EPIC number, RAB2916120, which Tejashwi mentioned in his press conference, was not officially issued and asked him to hand over the card for further investigation. The ECI said in its letter, “Upon verification, it was found that your name is recorded at serial number 416 of polling station no. 124 (located in the library building of Bihar Engineering University), and the EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) number is RAB0456228.” It further added that the mentioned EPIC number does not officially exist. “However, as per your statement in the press conference, you referred to your EPIC number as RAB2916120. A preliminary investigation revealed that EPIC number RAB2916120 does not officially exist,” it added in the letter.

The Election Commission said there is no need for political leaders to spread false information with respect to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being conducted at the national level. It added that such information is being deliberately peddled to obstruct the exercise.

The Election Commission of India on Sunday strongly refuted Congress MP P Chidambaram’s allegations of trying to change the electoral character and pattern of the states and claiming that 6.5 lakh new voters were added to voter lists in Tamil Nadu and called them “misleading and baseless”. Responding to the allegations, the EC said, “There is no need for political leaders to spread false information with respect to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being conducted by the ECl at the national level.” The poll agency added that such information is being “deliberately peddled in the media with a view to obstruct the exercise.” “As far as voters who have permanently shifted from Bihar to other states and are ordinarily resident in those states, the exact figures can be known only after the SIR has been conducted,” it added. ‘SIR not yet rolled out in TN, absurd to connect it with Bihar’ “The Constitution of India, read with the RP Act of 1950, envisages the enrollment of voters with respect to the constituency in which they are ordinarily resident. It is for the voters to come forward and get enrolled in the constituency where they are eligible. But, it is noticed that some false figures are being floated about the enrollment of 6.5 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu. SIR has not yet been rolled out in TN. It is therefore absurd to connect the SIR exercise in Bihar with TN. Such peddling of false statements with respect to SIR should be avoided,” the EC clarified. Chidambaram had questioned EC for adding approximately 6.5 lakh “migrant workers” to the electoral roll of Tamil Nadu.

The Election Commission said there is no need for political leaders to spread false information with respect to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being conducted at the national level. It added that such information is being deliberately peddled to obstruct the exercise.

EC refutes Chidambaram’s accusations, warns leaders against politicising SIR

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, targeted the Election Commission of India on Saturday and alleged that his name was missing from the “draft electoral rolls” published as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. The ECI, however, has rebutted the claim, terming it ‘factually incorrect’. Yadav claimed that nearly 65 lakh voters have been removed from the state’s draft electoral roll, ahead of upcoming assembly elections this year. The EC had released the draft voter list for Bihar on Friday, following a month-long special intensive revision (SIR) exercise.&nbsp;“Almost 20 to 30 thousand names have been removed from every assembly constituency. A total of around 65 lakh voters, or about 8.5% of the total, have had their names removed from the list,” he said.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Patna, Bihar: &quot;My name is not there in the electoral roll. How will I contest the elections?&quot; asks RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, as his EPIC number is unable to fetch his name in the electoral roll. <a href="https://t.co/eF2VkeNIRw">pic.twitter.com/eF2VkeNIRw</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1951554714207920181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;“Whenever the Election Commission issued an advertisement, it would mention that many people had shifted, many were deceased, and many had duplicate names... But in the list provided to us by the Election Commission, they have cleverly not given the address of any voter, no booth number, and no EPIC number, so that we cannot find out whose names have been removed from the voter list,” Yadav claimed. At a press conference, Tejashwi connected his phone to a large screen and attempted to search for his EPIC number, which returned the message: “No records found.”&nbsp;“My name is not there in the electoral roll. How will I contest the elections?” he asked.&nbsp;<h2>EC refutes claim, shares draft roll copy with Tejashwi’s name</h2>&nbsp;The EC refuted Yadav’s claim and said his name is there in the draft roll and is listed at Serial Number 416 in Digha Assembly constituency.The EC also released a copy of the draft electoral rolls showing Yadav’s name, photograph, and details at serial number 416.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 Fake News Alert 🚨 Tejashwi Yadav’s claim that his name is missing from the electoral roll post Special Intensive Revision is false. His name appears at Serial Number 416. Please verify facts before amplifying misinformation. Deliberate attempts to mislead voters must be… <a href="https://t.co/Nh4G0i4JTP">https://t.co/Nh4G0i4JTP</a> <a href="https://t.co/UkJZYL4qJZ">pic.twitter.com/UkJZYL4qJZ</a>&mdash; Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1951557339175104932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The row comes after the Election Commission was targeted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and it refuted his allegations of electoral manipulation also. <h2>‘Tejashwi lacks basic ability to search his name in list’</h2> Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary responded on X, accusing Yadav of lacking the basic ability to conduct a proper search. “Your name is very much alongside that of your father, respected Lalu Prasad (Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo). You would do better to shut your shop dealing in fraudulent and false claims,” Choudhary said.

The Election Commission refuted Tejashwi Yadav’s claim and said his name is there in the draft roll and is listed at Serial Number 416 in the Digha Assembly constituency. It also released a copy of the draft electoral rolls showing Yadav’s name, photograph, and details at serial number 416.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, targeted the Election Commission of India on Saturday and alleged that his name was missing from the “draft electoral rolls” published as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. The ECI, however, has rebutted the claim, terming it ‘factually incorrect’. Yadav claimed that nearly 65 lakh voters have been removed from the state’s draft electoral roll, ahead of upcoming assembly elections this year. The EC had released the draft voter list for Bihar on Friday, following a month-long special intensive revision (SIR) exercise. “Almost 20 to 30 thousand names have been removed from every assembly constituency. A total of around 65 lakh voters, or about 8.5% of the total, have had their names removed from the list,” he said.

The Election Commission refuted Tejashwi Yadav’s claim and said his name is there in the draft roll and is listed at Serial Number 416 in the Digha Assembly constituency. It also released a copy of the draft electoral rolls showing Yadav’s name, photograph, and details at serial number 416.

After Rahul, Tejashwi targets EC, claims his name ‘missing’ from voter list; poll body fact checks him

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that an independent investigation by the opposition found that the Election Commission of India is involved in a massive “vote theft” to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and termed it “treason” while warning the EC members of strong action. The Election Commission, meanwhile, dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as baseless and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”.&nbsp;“We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you,” Gandhi said while talking to reporters outside the parliament amid the escalating row over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar.&nbsp;Without naming any individual, Gandhi issued a warning to those in the Commission, saying, “You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. We will find you wherever you are, even if you are retired.”&nbsp;Explosive allegations by Rahul Gandhi against ECI&nbsp;Amid the protests in the parliament against Bihar SIR, Gandhi claimed that the opposition conducted an independent investigation after the recent elections and found proof that reveal ECI’s “involvement in vote theft”.&nbsp;“After the results of the Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections, we had our suspicions. Those only deepened after the Maharashtra Assembly polls—especially when we saw that 1 crore new voters had suddenly been added to the final voter list. That’s when we realised the Election Commission wouldn’t act. So, we launched our own six-month investigation. And what we uncovered is nothing short of an atom bomb. Once it explodes, the Election Commission will have no place to hide,” Gandhi said.&nbsp;Rahul’s warning to EC officials&nbsp;After his explosive claims, Gandhi issued a stern warning to the Election Commission officials, stating that they wouldn’t be spared even if they were retired.“Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you,” Gandhi said.&nbsp;On Thursday, the INDIA bloc parties, in a unanimous decision at their meeting, resolved to intensify their protests against the ongoing SIR both inside and outside Parliament.The INDIA bloc's protest comes as the Election Commission is scheduled to publish the draft electoral rolls of Bihar on Friday.&nbsp;============================&nbsp;The Election Commission of India (ECI) in its reaction issued a strong rebuttal and dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as “baseless” and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”.&nbsp;&nbsp;It said, “The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made every day and, despite the threats being given every day, it asks all election officials who are working in a fair and transparent manner to not pay heed to such irresponsible statements.”&nbsp;“And I’m not saying this lightly, I’m speaking with 100 percent proof. And when we release it (proof), the entire country will come to know that the Election Commission is enabling vote theft. And who are they doing it for? They’re doing it for the BJP,” he said while speaking to reporters.

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission of India is involved in vote theft and claimed that he has proof of it. He claimed an independent investigation revealed serious misconduct linked to recent polls.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that an independent investigation by the opposition found that the Election Commission of India is involved in a massive “vote theft” to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and termed it “treason” while warning the EC members of strong action. The Election Commission, meanwhile, dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as baseless and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”. “We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you,” Gandhi said while talking to reporters outside the parliament amid the escalating row over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. Without naming any individual, Gandhi issued a warning to those in the Commission, saying, “You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. We will find you wherever you are, even if you are retired.” Explosive allegations by Rahul Gandhi against ECI Amid the protests in the parliament against Bihar SIR, Gandhi claimed that the opposition conducted an independent investigation after the recent elections and found proof that reveal ECI’s “involvement in vote theft”. “After the results of the Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections, we had our suspicions. Those only deepened after the Maharashtra Assembly polls—especially when we saw that 1 crore new voters had suddenly been added to the final voter list. That’s when we realised the Election Commission wouldn’t act. So, we launched our own six-month investigation. And what we uncovered is nothing short of an atom bomb. Once it explodes, the Election Commission will have no place to hide,” Gandhi said. Rahul’s warning to EC officials After his explosive claims, Gandhi issued a stern warning to the Election Commission officials, stating that they wouldn’t be spared even if they were retired. “Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you,” Gandhi said. On Thursday, the INDIA bloc parties, in a unanimous decision at their meeting, resolved to intensify their protests against the ongoing SIR both inside and outside Parliament. The INDIA bloc's protest comes as the Election Commission is scheduled to publish the draft electoral rolls of Bihar on Friday. ============================ The Election Commission of India (ECI) in its reaction issued a strong rebuttal and dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as “baseless” and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”. It said, “The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made every day and, despite the threats being given every day, it asks all election officials who are working in a fair and transparent manner to not pay heed to such irresponsible statements.” “And I’m not saying this lightly, I’m speaking with 100 percent proof. And when we release it (proof), the entire country will come to know that the Election Commission is enabling vote theft. And who are they doing it for? They’re doing it for the BJP,” he said while speaking to reporters.

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission of India is involved in vote theft and claimed that he has proof of it. He claimed an independent investigation revealed serious misconduct linked to recent polls.

‘EC involved in vote theft, it’s treason,’ alleges Rahul Gandhi with warning; poll body rebuts charge

The Election Commission of India on Friday (Aug 1) has announced the schedule for the election of the next vice president of the country. The last date for making nominations is August 21, and the polling (if necessary) is set to take place on September 9 between 10 am to 5 pm. This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons behind his reason to resign “effective immediately”.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Election Commission of India announces schedule for the election of Vice President of India Last date for nominations-August 21, 2025 Date of poll (if necessary)- September 9, 2025 <a href="https://t.co/Ct6u3A9KpR">pic.twitter.com/Ct6u3A9KpR</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1951181147234308526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Full schedule of election for vice president of India:</h2><ul><li>Issue of Election Commission’s notification calling the election - August 7, 2025</li><li>Last date for making nominations - August 21, 2025</li><li>Date of the Scrutiny of nominations - August 22, 2025</li><li>Last date of the withdrawal of candidatures - August 25, 2025</li><li>Date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken - September 9, 2025</li><li>Hours of poll - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm</li><li>Date on which counting, if required, shall be taken - September 9, 2025</li></ul><h2>How is the vice president elected?</h2>According to the official website of the Vice President of India, the vice president is elected by an electoral college, which consists of members of both Houses of Parliament: Lok Sabha, the Lower House and Rajya Sabha, the Upper House. It is in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and the voting in such an election is by secret ballot.&nbsp;To become eligible to be elected as the vice president of India, a person should be an Indian citizen and at least the age of 35 years old. The person should also be qualified for election as a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). The website adds, “A person is not also eligible if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or a State Government or any subordinate local authority.”

This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons.

The Election Commission of India on Friday (Aug 1) has announced the schedule for the election of the next vice president of the country. The last date for making nominations is August 21, and the polling (if necessary) is set to take place on September 9 between 10 am to 5 pm. This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons behind his reason to resign “effective immediately”.

This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons.

EC announces date for India’s vice presidential election days after Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation: Full schedule here

The Election Commission has finalised the electoral college for the election of the next Vice President of India and will soon announce the schedule. The development came days after Jagdeep Dhankhar's&nbsp;sudden&nbsp;resignation from the constitutional post, citing health concerns.&nbsp;The Electoral College, which elects the Vice-President, comprises the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members. These members are listed in a continuous&nbsp;serial order. They are arranged alphabetically based on the state and union territory from which they were elected. The Election Commission said in a statement that the list of the Electoral College can be bought from a counter set up by the poll body after the notification.&nbsp;"The Commission has finalized the Electoral College list for the Vice-Presidential Election, 2025. These members are listed in a continuous serial order, arranged alphabetically based on the State/Union Territory of their respective Houses," it wrote in the statement.&nbsp;"The Electoral College list will be available for purchase at a counter set up in the Election Commission of India from the date of notification, which is likely to be announced soon," it added.&nbsp;Jagdeep Dhankhar had resigned on July 21, saying he needed to follow medical advice.&nbsp;In his resignation letter, Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately.”&nbsp;He thanked the President for her "unwavering support". He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his cooperation and support.&nbsp;"Prime Minister’s cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office," he added.

The Election Commission has finalised the electoral college for the election of the next Vice President of India and will soon announce the schedule. The development came days after Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation from the constitutional post, citing health concerns.

The Election Commission has finalised the electoral college for the election of the next Vice President of India and will soon announce the schedule. The development came days after Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation from the constitutional post, citing health concerns. The Electoral College, which elects the Vice-President, comprises the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members. These members are listed in a continuous serial order. They are arranged alphabetically based on the state and union territory from which they were elected. The Election Commission said in a statement that the list of the Electoral College can be bought from a counter set up by the poll body after the notification. "The Commission has finalized the Electoral College list for the Vice-Presidential Election, 2025. These members are listed in a continuous serial order, arranged alphabetically based on the State/Union Territory of their respective Houses," it wrote in the statement. "The Electoral College list will be available for purchase at a counter set up in the Election Commission of India from the date of notification, which is likely to be announced soon," it added. Jagdeep Dhankhar had resigned on July 21, saying he needed to follow medical advice. In his resignation letter, Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately.” He thanked the President for her "unwavering support". He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his cooperation and support. "Prime Minister’s cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office," he added.

The Electoral College, which elects the Vice-President, comprises the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members

Election Commission finalises Electoral College for Vice-President elections

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged that institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission were being "systematically captured" by the RSS and said India cannot be run on one single idea.

There is a feeling among the people that one ideology is being imposed upon them, Gandhi said at an interaction with academicians here.

"(RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat in his earlier speeches has said: 'We are going to organise the nation'. Who is he to organise the nation? The nation will organise itself. In next couple of months, their fantasy will be smashed," he asserted.

During the interaction with eminent academicians from across the country at the Siri Fort, Gandhi said there are two visions of India and the Congress' vision is that India constitutes of people who live in it.

The only way to understand India is talk to its people, he said.

Gandhi alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's vision of India is that of a "golden bird" which it views as a product.

The product has to be monetised and utilised, and they will decide who will do this, the Congress chief said.

"What we are fighting is the attempted capture of this 'golden bird' by the RSS. They have understood very clearly that electoral battle for them, they can win it once, but they can't repeatedly win it.

"They have understood that. So, now what they are doing is that they are saying elections will come and elections will go, let us capture all of India's institutions and let us capture the golden bird with a bypass surgery," he said.

The educational institutions, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India, all these are "systematically being captured", Gandhi alleged.

Citing an example, he alleged, "When Mr (Narendra) Modi came to power, a person from Gujarat was chosen to head the SPG. In a short time, he left the position. He told me that he refused a list of SPG officers handpicked by the RSS, and that is why he was sent home."

Gandhi claimed that the reason behind this attack on institutions was that there were monetary benefits for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"For me, it is impossible to lead India, without having a conversation with India. The idea is, I should be a reflection of what is in your heart," he said.

Gandhi told the professors that he knows that they were feeling under pressure and feeling that an ideology was being imposed on them.

"You feel that one syllabus has now suddenly become acceptable to every single institution in India and I want you to understand and realise that you are not alone when you are fighting this battle, this sense, this feeling that you are getting is not only in your heart, it is in the heart of every single Indian person, it is in the heart of the farmers, it is in the heart of the labourers, it is in the heart of small and medium business," Gandhi said.

A country of over a billion people cannot possibly be run on one single idea and the fact that people are allowed to express is the strength of the country, Gandhi said.

"Look at 3,000 years of India's history, we are going to win, we are not going to lose," Gandhi asserted.

Attacking the government over its education policy, Gandhi said government institutions should be given precedence over private institutions and the government should put money to strengthen them.

"There has to be space for private institutions, but the guiding light, the foundation, the superstructure has to be the public education system," he said.

"The quality private institutions must look towards government institutions and say look that is an IIT that is something we aspire to, it shouldn't be the other way round," he said, adding that the government has to put money into the system.

He also recalled that former US president Barack Obama had said the real competition for America was from the engineers, doctors and lawyers coming out of India. This was praise for the teachers of India, Gandhi said.

The Congress chief asserted that when it comes to the Indian education system, two things are non-negotiable -- teachers should be able to express and they should be given a vision for their own future.

Gandhi said the Congress was commencing its work in drafting a manifesto and invited teachers to form a delegation and come forward with their demands.&nbsp;

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged that institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission were being "systematically captured" by the RSS and said India cannot be run on one single idea.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged that institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission were being "systematically captured" by the RSS and said India cannot be run on one single idea. There is a feeling among the people that one ideology is being imposed upon them, Gandhi said at an interaction with academicians here. "(RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat in his earlier speeches has said: 'We are going to organise the nation'. Who is he to organise the nation? The nation will organise itself. In next couple of months, their fantasy will be smashed," he asserted. During the interaction with eminent academicians from across the country at the Siri Fort, Gandhi said there are two visions of India and the Congress' vision is that India constitutes of people who live in it. The only way to understand India is talk to its people, he said. Gandhi alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's vision of India is that of a "golden bird" which it views as a product. The product has to be monetised and utilised, and they will decide who will do this, the Congress chief said. "What we are fighting is the attempted capture of this 'golden bird' by the RSS. They have understood very clearly that electoral battle for them, they can win it once, but they can't repeatedly win it. "They have understood that. So, now what they are doing is that they are saying elections will come and elections will go, let us capture all of India's institutions and let us capture the golden bird with a bypass surgery," he said. The educational institutions, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India, all these are "systematically being captured", Gandhi alleged. Citing an example, he alleged, "When Mr (Narendra) Modi came to power, a person from Gujarat was chosen to head the SPG. In a short time, he left the position. He told me that he refused a list of SPG officers handpicked by the RSS, and that is why he was sent home." Gandhi claimed that the reason behind this attack on institutions was that there were monetary benefits for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "For me, it is impossible to lead India, without having a conversation with India. The idea is, I should be a reflection of what is in your heart," he said. Gandhi told the professors that he knows that they were feeling under pressure and feeling that an ideology was being imposed on them. "You feel that one syllabus has now suddenly become acceptable to every single institution in India and I want you to understand and realise that you are not alone when you are fighting this battle, this sense, this feeling that you are getting is not only in your heart, it is in the heart of every single Indian person, it is in the heart of the farmers, it is in the heart of the labourers, it is in the heart of small and medium business," Gandhi said. A country of over a billion people cannot possibly be run on one single idea and the fact that people are allowed to express is the strength of the country, Gandhi said. "Look at 3,000 years of India's history, we are going to win, we are not going to lose," Gandhi asserted. Attacking the government over its education policy, Gandhi said government institutions should be given precedence over private institutions and the government should put money to strengthen them. "There has to be space for private institutions, but the guiding light, the foundation, the superstructure has to be the public education system," he said. "The quality private institutions must look towards government institutions and say look that is an IIT that is something we aspire to, it shouldn't be the other way round," he said, adding that the government has to put money into the system. He also recalled that former US president Barack Obama had said the real competition for America was from the engineers, doctors and lawyers coming out of India. This was praise for the teachers of India, Gandhi said. The Congress chief asserted that when it comes to the Indian education system, two things are non-negotiable -- teachers should be able to express and they should be given a vision for their own future. Gandhi said the Congress was commencing its work in drafting a manifesto and invited teachers to form a delegation and come forward with their demands.

Institutions like SC, EC being 'systematically captured' by RSS: Rahul Gandhi

Thai voters approved a junta-backed constitution in a referendum today, preliminary results showed, an outcome that paves the way for an election next year, but will also require future elected governments to rule on the military&#39;s terms. Final results are still awaited. 
 
Voters handed the junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha a convincing win in its first major popularity test at the ballot box since it seized power in a 2014 coup. 
 
With 94 per cent of the vote counted, early results from the election commission showed 61.4 per cent of Thais had voted for the charter, while 37.9 per cent rejected it. Full results are due on Wednesday. 
 
The junta says the constitution is designed to heal more than a decade of divisive politics in Thailand that has dented economic growth and left scores dead in civil unrest. 
 
But Thailand&#39;s major political parties and critics of the government say the charter will enshrine the military&#39;s political role for years to come. 
 
The win was a blow to the powerful Shinawatra clan and their allies, whose populist politics are reviled by Thailand&#39;s military-royalist establishment. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister in a coup in 2006 and his sister Yingluck&#39;s government was toppled by Prayuth in 2014. 
 
The acting head of the Peau Thai Party, which carried Yingluck to power, said Thais may have voted pragmatically for the charter as the fastest route to an election. 
 
&quot;The reason most Thais accepted the constitution is because they want to see a general election quickly,&quot; Wirot Pao-in told reporters at the Peau Thai&#39;s Bangkok headquarters on Sunday. &quot;All sides must now help move the country forward.&quot; 
 
Across town at the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship group, the tone was less conciliatory. 
 
&quot;What will we do next? Tell Prayuth that, although it seems he is winning, this is not a victory he can be proud of because his opponents have not been able to fight at their best due to threats and harassment,&quot; said Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the pro-Shinawatra UDD. 
 
Some people wept as the result became clear at the UDD headquarters in Bangkok. 
 
Intimidation 
 
The junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), banned debate about the constitution and campaigning ahead of the vote. The authorities have detained and charged dozens of people who have spoken against it, including politicians and student activists. 
 
&quot;(It was) a one-sided campaign in which the junta indirectly encouraged &#39;yes&#39; votes and arrested or intimidated referendum opponents,&quot; said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs in the city of Chiang Mai. 
 
&quot;As a result many voters did not show up while others felt compelled to vote &#39;yes&#39;.&quot; 
 
Turnout of around 55 per cent was below the 80 per cent targeted by the Election Commission. That likely favoured the government, said Thithinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok&#39;s Chulalongkorn University. 
 
&quot;This is a hands-down convincing margin of approval for the military government,&quot; he said. &quot;This is going to give the junta a signal to go full steam ahead for elections next year. They will feel confident from this vote about rolling out their plans for the transitional period.&quot; 
 
Around 200,000 police were deployed for the referendum and voting passed without major incident. 
 
The yes vote will likely be cheered by Thai financial markets. 
 
&quot;The outcome is our best case scenario and investors should react positively as it&#39;s clear that the election will happen next year,&quot; said Kasem Prunratanamala, head of research at CIMB Securities. 
 
&quot;Foreign investors had been waiting for the vote and may invest more now.&quot; 
 
Decade of turmoil 
 
The vote comes amid concerns about the health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88. The military has for decades invoked its duty as defender of the deeply revered monarch to justify its interventions in politics. 
 
Critics say the charter is the military&#39;s attempt to make good on their failure to banish Thaksin from Thai politics after the 2006 coup. 
 
Senior army officers have told Reuters the new charter aims to make future coups unnecessary by weakening political parties and ensuring the military a role in overseeing Thailand&#39;s economic and political development. 
 
Under the constitution, which would be Thailand&#39;s 20th since the military abolished an absolute monarchy in 1932, a junta-appointed Senate with seats reserved for military commanders would check the powers of elected lawmakers. 
 
Thaksin called the charter a &quot;folly&quot;, saying it would perpetuate the junta&#39;s power and make it impossible to govern Thailand. 
 
Thaksin retains strong influence despite living in self-imposed exile. His support base in the rural northeast bucked the trend and voted against the charter on Sunday. 
 
Decha Shangkamanee, a day labourer in Khon Kaen, said he had voted against it because he disliked the junta, but did not expect the referendum to make much difference. 
 
&quot;I know that nothing really changes today with the way the country is ruled,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

With 94 per cent of the vote counted, early results from the election commission showed 61.4 per cent of Thais had voted for the charter

Thai voters approved a junta-backed constitution in a referendum today, preliminary results showed, an outcome that paves the way for an election next year, but will also require future elected governments to rule on the military's terms. Final results are still awaited. Voters handed the junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha a convincing win in its first major popularity test at the ballot box since it seized power in a 2014 coup. With 94 per cent of the vote counted, early results from the election commission showed 61.4 per cent of Thais had voted for the charter, while 37.9 per cent rejected it. Full results are due on Wednesday. The junta says the constitution is designed to heal more than a decade of divisive politics in Thailand that has dented economic growth and left scores dead in civil unrest. But Thailand's major political parties and critics of the government say the charter will enshrine the military's political role for years to come. The win was a blow to the powerful Shinawatra clan and their allies, whose populist politics are reviled by Thailand's military-royalist establishment. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister in a coup in 2006 and his sister Yingluck's government was toppled by Prayuth in 2014. The acting head of the Peau Thai Party, which carried Yingluck to power, said Thais may have voted pragmatically for the charter as the fastest route to an election. "The reason most Thais accepted the constitution is because they want to see a general election quickly," Wirot Pao-in told reporters at the Peau Thai's Bangkok headquarters on Sunday. "All sides must now help move the country forward." Across town at the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship group, the tone was less conciliatory. "What will we do next? Tell Prayuth that, although it seems he is winning, this is not a victory he can be proud of because his opponents have not been able to fight at their best due to threats and harassment," said Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the pro-Shinawatra UDD. Some people wept as the result became clear at the UDD headquarters in Bangkok. Intimidation The junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), banned debate about the constitution and campaigning ahead of the vote. The authorities have detained and charged dozens of people who have spoken against it, including politicians and student activists. "(It was) a one-sided campaign in which the junta indirectly encouraged 'yes' votes and arrested or intimidated referendum opponents," said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs in the city of Chiang Mai. "As a result many voters did not show up while others felt compelled to vote 'yes'." Turnout of around 55 per cent was below the 80 per cent targeted by the Election Commission. That likely favoured the government, said Thithinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "This is a hands-down convincing margin of approval for the military government," he said. "This is going to give the junta a signal to go full steam ahead for elections next year. They will feel confident from this vote about rolling out their plans for the transitional period." Around 200,000 police were deployed for the referendum and voting passed without major incident. The yes vote will likely be cheered by Thai financial markets. "The outcome is our best case scenario and investors should react positively as it's clear that the election will happen next year," said Kasem Prunratanamala, head of research at CIMB Securities. "Foreign investors had been waiting for the vote and may invest more now." Decade of turmoil The vote comes amid concerns about the health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88. The military has for decades invoked its duty as defender of the deeply revered monarch to justify its interventions in politics. Critics say the charter is the military's attempt to make good on their failure to banish Thaksin from Thai politics after the 2006 coup. Senior army officers have told Reuters the new charter aims to make future coups unnecessary by weakening political parties and ensuring the military a role in overseeing Thailand's economic and political development. Under the constitution, which would be Thailand's 20th since the military abolished an absolute monarchy in 1932, a junta-appointed Senate with seats reserved for military commanders would check the powers of elected lawmakers. Thaksin called the charter a "folly", saying it would perpetuate the junta's power and make it impossible to govern Thailand. Thaksin retains strong influence despite living in self-imposed exile. His support base in the rural northeast bucked the trend and voted against the charter on Sunday. Decha Shangkamanee, a day labourer in Khon Kaen, said he had voted against it because he disliked the junta, but did not expect the referendum to make much difference. "I know that nothing really changes today with the way the country is ruled," he said. (Reuters)

Thai junta passes ballot box test with referendum win in preliminary results

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