In recent days, a political storm has erupted over allegations of double voting in India, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the centre of the controversy. Gandhi alleged that a 70-year-old woman, Shakun Rani, cast her vote twice within two months by misusing Form 6. Presenting what he described as documentary proof, Gandhi claimed the document originated from polling officials and showed that voter fraud had taken place. The accusation quickly made headlines, adding fuel to an already charged political atmosphere.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) swiftly responded, conducting its own inquiry into the matter. According to the ECI’s findings, Shakun Rani had voted only once, directly contradicting Rahul Gandhi’s claim. The Commission further clarified that the document Gandhi had presented was not issued by any polling officer, casting doubt on the authenticity of his evidence. In light of this, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer formally issued a notice to Gandhi, asking him to submit the alleged documents under oath or publicly retract his statement.
The Election Commission also pointed out an important fact that undermined the allegation: the voter rolls in question are the very same lists used by the Congress-led Karnataka government for its caste census, suggesting they are considered reliable by Gandhi’s own party. This counterpoint has been repeatedly highlighted by the ECI in its official statements.
The political fallout was immediate. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ridiculed Gandhi, accusing him of spreading unverified claims and even altering numerical figures in his statements without justification. Meanwhile, the BJP in Kerala and Karnataka took the opportunity to turn the tables, alleging that Congress and its ally, the CPI(M), were themselves engaged in manipulating voter lists and creating duplicate entries. In Kerala, BJP leaders claimed there were as many as 2.75 lakh double votes, which they said were part of a CPM-led scheme.
For now, the ECI’s investigation stands in direct opposition to Rahul Gandhi’s assertions, and the onus is on him to provide credible evidence to back his claims. Until that happens, the double voting allegation surrounding Shakun Rani remains officially unsubstantiated, serving more as a flashpoint for political sparring than a proven case of electoral malpractice.
Double Voter Claims in India: Facts, Politics, and History
In early August 2025, a political controversy erupted over alleged double voting in India when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that a 70-year-old woman, Shakun Rani, had cast her vote twice within two months by misusing Form 6, which is used for voter registration and changes in electoral rolls. Gandhi presented what he described as an official document from polling authorities to support his charge, sparking outrage among his supporters and raising serious questions about electoral integrity.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) reacted promptly, launching an inquiry into the allegation. The Commission’s findings directly contradicted Gandhi’s claim. According to the ECI, Shakun Rani had voted only once. Moreover, the document displayed by Gandhi was found to be inauthentic, with the Commission asserting that it had not been issued by any authorized polling officer. This revelation prompted the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer to issue a formal notice to Gandhi, demanding that he submit the alleged documents under oath or issue a public apology for what the ECI described as a “misleading” accusation.
The ECI also stressed that the voter list in question was the same roll used by the Congress-led Karnataka government for its caste census, thereby questioning why Gandhi’s own party would rely on an allegedly flawed list for official state purposes. The Commission’s defence of the list was clearly intended to reinforce public confidence in the integrity of India’s electoral rolls, which have been a recurring source of political disputes.
A History of Voter Fraud Allegations
India has faced repeated accusations of voter fraud over the decades. Duplicate voter entries, fake voter IDs, and “bogus voting” have been alleged in various states, especially during high-stakes elections. While the ECI has implemented multiple safeguards—such as the introduction of photo voter slips, EPIC cards, and the linking of voter ID data with Aadhaar—political parties still routinely accuse one another of manipulating rolls.
In Kerala, BJP leaders have in the past alleged that the CPI(M) manipulated electoral rolls by adding fake or duplicate names to influence results in tightly contested constituencies. Just this month, Kerala BJP leaders claimed there were 2.75 lakh double votes in the state, accusing the ruling Left of orchestrating a systematic voter list fraud. Similar claims have surfaced in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh in previous years, often dismissed by the ECI as exaggerated or politically motivated.
Historically, cases of actual double voting have been rare, but they have occurred. Investigations in the 1990s and early 2000s found instances of voters being registered in more than one constituency—sometimes due to clerical errors and sometimes due to deliberate fraud. The shift to more digitized and centralized voter databases has reduced these cases, but the political narrative of “vote theft” remains a potent campaign tool.
The Current Political Fallout
Rahul Gandhi’s claim and the ECI’s rebuttal have deepened the political divide. Leaders from the BJP, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, mocked Gandhi for making what they called “factually hollow” allegations. BJP spokespersons pointed out that this was not the first time Gandhi had raised similar accusations without presenting verifiable proof, and they accused the Congress of attempting to undermine faith in the electoral process for political gain.
In response, Congress leaders have doubled down on their demand for greater transparency in voter roll maintenance, arguing that irregularities—whether due to negligence or deliberate manipulation—must be rooted out to protect India’s democracy.
Bottom Line
While double voting is a serious electoral offence, the present case involving Shakun Rani remains unsubstantiated according to the Election Commission’s findings. The incident reflects a broader pattern in Indian politics: voter fraud claims are often weaponized during election season, regardless of their factual basis. For now, the controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s allegation is less a confirmed case of malpractice and more a flashpoint in India’s ongoing battle between political perception and electoral reality.