Early Monday, August 18, Samajwadi Party (SP) national president and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav alleged widespread, evidence driven, voter discrepancies, that his party had pointed out in 2022, after the state assembly polls but which had been determinedly not acted upon by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
To substantiate this, Yadav distributed affidavits to journalists, detailing that the party had submitted 18,000 affidavits after the 2022 assembly elections flagging discrepancies, but “not a single action was taken by the Commission”. The ECI has been on record through the Bihar SIR and the hearing around it at the Supreme Court, claiming “no political parties had brought any complaints, as it seemed to deem the exercise successful and fair.”
Yadav’s revelations bear great relevance given the peevish response of the ECI and CEC Gnanesh Kumar to LOP Rahul Gandhi’s serious allegations on “Vote Chori” made on August 7.
SP submitted 18,000 affidavits on ‘vote theft’ says Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that his party has submitted 18,000 affidavits about “vote theft”, but the Election Commission has not taken action so far. “The list keeps getting longer. There has been no response on the wrongdoings we pointed out, nor on the affidavits we submitted,” Yadav alleged.
Also stating that the Election Commission has the “historic responsibility” of safeguarding democracy, the SP chief said that when it takes the “right course”, support of crores of Indians will become its shield.Yadav said that a single “correct and bold step” by the poll panel could secure the future and welfare of countless generations in the country.
“The Election Commission needs not just reforms but a complete transformation. Today, the historic duty of protecting democracy rests on its shoulders. We understand that it faces various unwarranted pressures, but it must not think it stands alone,” Yadav said in a statement.
“When the Election Commission chooses the right course, crores of Indians will stand behind it as its shield. When one walks the path of truth, people and their faith walk along. A single correct and bold step by the commission can ensure the future and well-being of endless generations. Everyone must listen to the voice of their conscience,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
In this post on X (see below), Yadav presented a receipt and said, “The Election Commission, which is saying that it has not received the affidavits submitted by the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, should check the acknowledgement issued by its own office as proof of receipt of our affidavits.”
He further demanded that the ECI authenticate the digital acknowledgement it had issued. “This time we demand that the Election Commission give an affidavit that the digital receipt sent to us is correct, otherwise along with the ‘Election Commission’, ‘Digital India’ will also come under suspicion.”
Concluding his statement, Yadav remarked, “If BJP goes, truth will come!” The statement came hours after the Election Commission gave Rahul Gandhi a seven-day deadline to either submit an affidavit with evidence or issue a public apology over “vote chori” claim.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had said on Sunday, August 17, at a press meet in New Delhi, “An affidavit will have to be given or an apology will have to be made to the country. There is no third option. If the affidavit is not received within 7 days, it means that all these allegations are baseless.”
जो चुनाव आयोग ये कह रहा है कि हमें यूपी में समाजवादी पार्टी द्वारा दिये गये ऐफ़िडेविट नहीं मिले हैं, वो हमारे शपथपत्रों की प्राप्ति के प्रमाण स्वरूप दी गयी अपने कार्यालय की पावती को देख ले। इस बार हम मांग करते हैं कि चुनाव आयोग शपथपत्र दे कि ये जो डिजिटल रसीद हमको भेजी गयी है वो… pic.twitter.com/9A4njvF9Tw
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 17, 2025
Later in the afternoon, doubling down on the “vote chori in Uttar Pradesh (UP), senior Samapajwadi Party leader and secretary general, SP, Ram Gopal Yadav (also an MP in the Rajya Sabha) questioned the ECI for diverting attention from Leader of the Opposition (LOP), Rahul Gandhi’s serious allegations of vote fraud showcasing the Madhevapura assembly segment of Bengaluru central lok sabha constituency by asking for the “allegations on affidavit.”
Addressing a joint press conference called by the INDIA alliance in New Delhi, Gopal said that soon after the 2022 state polls in UP, when Akhilesh Yadav had stated that thousands of votes of voters with allegiance to the SP had been cut from the voter rolls, the poll body had served a “notice” to him. The poll body had demanded proof, he said. At the time 18,000 affidavits (signed and notarised) for which receipts were also obtained. Gopal further stated that there was no action on even one of these complaints given on affidavits by the ECI.
“Jo election commission rozaana Rahul Gandhi ji se affidavit maang raha hai, us ECI ko ham, 2022 main galat tareeke se kaate gaye voter kee affidavit de chuke hai. (The same ECI that is, everyday, demanding “proof” from Rahul Gandhi ji and maligning the Opposition, refuses to investigate or answer specific complaints!) We have receipts for this. No action was taken. Then, when elections took place in 2024 for the Lok Sabha, they (state election commission) removed all Muslims and Yadavs were removed discriminating on basis of caste and community. No inquiry or investigation on these grave allegations was conducted. Similarly when elections were taking place in Mainpuri, we gave in writing, (complaints of) only one community (caste)—the caste of the CM (Thakurs), all election officials –be it SDMs, Cos and SHOs!! We gave this in writing. We all know that on election day, SDM and CO, in their vehicles, with police, they can bully persons—use brute force—to prevent voting. Only presiding officers and polling officers have legal authority over polling but these techniques were brazenly employed (in UP in 2022) to prevent all voters who have allegiences to the Opposition, from voting. So today for the ECI to say that the Opposition speaks without evidence and affidavits is an untruth, falsehood and belied by facts. Then we know in Delhi the violations… In UP from now itself voters are being cut from the rolls, illegal transfers of officers are happening. Check transfer lists, we appeal to the media to save Indian democracy.
“We appeal to the media to highlight these calculated moves,” Gopal added. “ECI ignores all Opposition complaints of these brazen violations. When under Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, it is clearly stated that, any Indian above the age of 18 will be registered as a voter, this kind of brazen disenfranchisement is taking place. If some local official simply rules that X or Y is not a voter and strikes him/her off, this means that an irregular NRC process is being implemented! Imagine the implications: if X or Y is told he/she is not a voter it means he has been declared a non-citizen. This is very, very serious what is going on. The motives of the government, the motives of the ECI are very suspect and their actions have a serious implication for the interpretation of the right to adult franchise, Article 326. This must be communicated to the people by the media, people need to be awakened, made aware. The media must not only speak the language of the ruling party/government but must reflect the interventions and views of the Opposition that are presently rebuilding India.”
The press conference called by the INDIA opposition may be viewed here
Related:
Rahul Gandhi alleges ‘Vote Chori’ in 2024 polls, accuses BJP-ECI nexus of systematic electoral fraud