Rahul Gandhi held a detailed press conference in New Delhi where he unveiled data and documents which he said expose a coordinated effort to tamper with Haryana’s electoral rolls. He referred to this disclosure as the “hydrogen bomb”, which he had earlier said would be larger than previous voter fraud revelations he presented in other states.
According to him, the findings in the H-Files indicate a planned and systematic expansion of voter lists in selected constituencies. He argued that this was not a clerical or technical irregularity but an organized operation that influenced the eventual result of the election. He said the Congress had been projected to win according to multiple exit polls, yet narrowly lost, which he believes aligns with the alleged manipulation.
Repeated Use of a Brazilian Model’s Photograph in Voter IDs
A central example presented by Rahul Gandhi was the repeated appearance of the same woman’s photograph across multiple voter identities in Haryana. He showed documents that used the same photograph under names such as Seema, Sweety, Saraswati, Rashmi and Vimla, across at least ten polling booths.
He said the image was originally a 2017 stock photograph from the website Unsplash, taken by a Brazilian photographer. Rahul Gandhi argued that the presence of a foreign stock image inside official Indian voter records suggests fabrication of identities, not clerical error. He called it a symbol of artificial identity creation within the electoral system.
Claim of 25 Lakh Fake Entries in Voter Rolls
Rahul Gandhi said that the Haryana voter list contains nearly 25 lakh entries that should not exist. He stated that this number represents approximately 12.5 percent of the total registered voters, which is about one in every eight voters.
He said these entries included duplicate voters, unverifiable addresses and bulk-added names that appeared during revision cycles. According to him, the Congress lost by about 22,000 votes, and even a small portion of alleged manipulated entries could have significantly changed seat-by-seat results. He said the matter is serious because it affects both public mandate and electoral legitimacy.
Questioning the Election Commission
During the press conference, Rahul Gandhi questioned the role and responsibility of the Election Commission of India. He asked why the discrepancies he claims to have discovered were not identified in verification drives. He said that the difference between postal ballots and final voting outcomes in Haryana was historically unusual and should have triggered an inquiry.
He stated that the credibility of democratic institutions depends on their neutrality. He added that any erosion of institutional trust directly affects the spirit of democracy.
Reference to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini
Rahul Gandhi also presented a video of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, recorded shortly after exit polls predicted a Congress victory. In the video, Saini refers to “vyavastha”, which Rahul Gandhi suggested implied that arrangements had already been made before counting.
He clarified that the video alone was not proof, but he said it supports the narrative of pre-election orchestration.
Appeal to Young Voters
Rahul Gandhi made a direct appeal to young voters and first time voters, saying they are the ones who stand to lose the most in a weakened democracy. He said that voter list integrity is the foundation of electoral fairness. He urged citizens to verify their names and check voter lists in their constituencies.
He said his approach is rooted in Satya, Ahimsa and constitutional responsibility, and that public participation is necessary in safeguarding the democratic process.
Election Commission’s Reaction
The Election Commission rejected the allegations. It said that no major objections were raised by the Congress during the voter revision period, and that any dispute should be pursued through legal channels. The Commission stated that elections involve multiple checks including participation of polling agents from various political parties.
Closing Message and Political Impact
Rahul Gandhi said the issue extends beyond Haryana and concerns the future of India’s democratic system. He stated that he and his party will continue to raise the matter in public and legal forums. He closed the press conference by saying that the matter is not about winning or losing but about the future of the nation. He stated that his party stands with truth and that he believes truth will prevail.
