National Times Bureau :- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly objected to the use of phrases like “vote theft” by political leaders to allege electoral malpractice, terming such language an affront to the dignity of Indian voters and the integrity of election officials.
Sources in the Commission said the principle of “one person, one vote” has been firmly upheld since India’s first general elections in 1951–52, and any allegations of duplicate voting must be backed by verifiable evidence.
“If anyone has proof of an individual casting more than one vote in any election, it should be submitted to the ECI along with a sworn affidavit, rather than painting all voters as ‘thieves’ without evidence,” a senior official said.
The Commission expressed concern that such rhetoric not only casts unwarranted suspicion on millions of law-abiding voters but also undermines the credibility of the election machinery.
“Creating a false narrative through offensive terms like ‘vote theft’ is a direct attack on the dignity of voters and the integrity of lakhs of election personnel,” an ECI source added.
