The political landscape in India witnessed a fresh controversy on September 2, 2025, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched an attack on Congress leader Pawan Khera over alleged irregularities in his voter registration. The matter quickly escalated into a heated debate between the two national parties, with the BJP alleging electoral malpractice and the Congress shifting the blame to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) voter list management system.

The controversy began when BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused Pawan Khera of possessing two valid voter IDs in Delhi — one registered in Jangpura and another in the New Delhi assembly constituency. Malviya shared this allegation on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling Congress the “quintessential vote chor” (vote thief). He further claimed that such cases expose how the Congress has allegedly manipulated voter lists for decades.

This allegation surfaced just a day after Rahul Gandhi made a dramatic claim of a forthcoming “hydrogen bomb” revelation on the BJP’s alleged manipulation of voter data. The timing of Malviya’s charge suggested a counter-attack aimed at discrediting Congress’s narrative.

BJP’s Allegations Against Pawan Khera

Malviya alleged that Khera’s dual voter registrations fall under two different Lok Sabha constituencies — East Delhi and New Delhi. According to him, this raises a serious question: Has Khera voted twice in past elections? Malviya demanded an investigation by the Election Commission and pressed for strict action.

He also linked the allegation to a broader pattern of alleged Congress malpractice, recalling past controversies such as:

• Claims about Sonia Gandhi’s early voter registration,

• Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of voter fraud in Karnataka and Maharashtra,

• Allegations that Congress used illegal voters and non-citizens to influence election outcomes.

The BJP’s narrative framed Khera’s case as part of a longstanding culture of electoral fraud within Congress, which they argue has undermined the credibility of India’s democratic system.

Pawan Khera’s Defense

In response, Pawan Khera strongly denied the accusations. He clarified that he shifted his residence from New Delhi in 2016 and submitted the required documents to the Election Commission to delete his voter entry from the New Delhi list. However, he alleged that despite his efforts, his name continues to appear in the voter rolls for the constituency.

Khera insisted that the issue highlighted systemic flaws in the ECI’s voter list management, rather than any personal wrongdoing. He challenged the Election Commission to release CCTV footage from past elections to prove that he had never cast a vote from the New Delhi constituency after moving out.

“This is exactly what we’re saying. The voter list issues must be addressed. Why is my name still there? Who is voting in my name?” Khera told ANI in a sharp rebuttal.

Khera argued that instead of targeting him, the BJP should support efforts to strengthen the electoral system. He claimed that the BJP was weaponising a clerical error to defame Congress and divert attention from larger issues, such as allegations of data manipulation raised by Rahul Gandhi.

Election Commission’s Role Under Scrutiny

The timing of this controversy is significant as it coincides with the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This exercise is aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible voters while updating constituency records.

Congress has already raised objections to the SIR process, claiming it lacks transparency and could be manipulated to benefit the ruling party. The Pawan Khera case has now become another flashpoint in this debate, with the Congress arguing that technical flaws and inefficiencies in the ECI’s system are being wrongly attributed to individuals.

Meanwhile, Malviya countered that the revision would actually expose how Congress had “stolen mandates” for decades by enrolling duplicate voters. According to the BJP, the Khera episode is just one of many cases that would surface during this clean-up.

Political Implications

The controversy has political undertones far beyond the individual case of Pawan Khera. With general elections looming on the horizon, voter list accuracy has become a high-stakes issue. Both parties are trying to shape the narrative — the BJP by presenting Congress as habitual vote manipulators, and Congress by projecting itself as a defender of electoral integrity against institutional lapses.

The exchange also reflects the increasing reliance on social media warfare, with leaders like Amit Malviya using platforms like X to launch direct accusations, while Congress leaders respond through press conferences and media interactions.

For voters, the controversy once again brings to light questions about the credibility of India’s electoral rolls, the efficiency of the Election Commission, and the possibility of political misuse of administrative lapses.

Conclusion

The BJP’s allegations against Pawan Khera and his subsequent defense have reignited a critical debate about the accuracy of voter lists in India. While the BJP insists this case proves Congress’s pattern of voter fraud, Khera’s rebuttal shifts the spotlight on the Election Commission’s failure to update electoral rolls despite repeated requests.

As the controversy unfolds, the spotlight remains firmly on the Election Commission, which faces the dual challenge of ensuring electoral transparency while navigating accusations from both major parties. The issue may seem like a technical irregularity, but in the high-voltage atmosphere of Indian politics, it has become another battleground for narrative control ahead of crucial elections.

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