H.D. Deve Gowda Defends PM Modi in Rajya Sabha, Rejects Opposition’s ‘Vote Chori’ Allegations

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : The Rajya Sabha on Monday continued its debate on electoral reforms during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, with senior JD(S) leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda strongly defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi against opposition allegations of irregularities in voters’ lists, often described by critics as “vote chori”.

Speaking during the discussion, the 92-year-old former Prime Minister asserted that imperfections in the electoral process were not a new phenomenon and had occurred under various governments in the past, including during the tenure of Congress leaders Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Gowda said attempts to single out the present government or the Prime Minister were misleading and politically motivated.

He recalled instances from history to underline his point, referring to alleged irregularities during Indira Gandhi’s era, including a case in Kerala where around 18,000 votes were reportedly added to electoral rolls. “Even during Nehru’s time, there were lapses in the electoral system. Such irregularities have happened under different governments. They are not exclusive to the present administration,” Gowda said.

Referring to recent controversies surrounding voter list revisions, particularly in Bihar, where opposition parties raised objections over the Election Commission’s review process, Gowda noted that despite such allegations, election outcomes reflected the will of the people. “After all the claims and counterclaims, what was the result? Congress managed to win only six MLAs,” he remarked, questioning the credibility of the opposition’s charges.

The former Prime Minister then turned his attention to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s electoral track record. He pointed out that Modi served as Gujarat Chief Minister for 12 years before contesting his first Lok Sabha election from Varanasi in 2014. “He won by a margin of over 3.72 lakh votes. At that time, there were no allegations of manipulation or voter list tampering,” Gowda said.

Highlighting the BJP’s performance in the 2014 general elections, Gowda noted that the party won 282 seats on its own, enough to form a majority government. “Despite this, Prime Minister Modi chose to form a broader NDA coalition, inviting allies to be part of the government. This showed his commitment to inclusiveness,” he said. He added that the same approach was followed in 2019, when the BJP won 303 seats but continued to prioritise coalition politics to ensure stable governance.

“With his personality and strength, the Prime Minister could have governed alone. Yet he opted for inclusiveness and partnership,” Gowda said, arguing that allegations related to voter lists against Modi lacked substance and factual basis.

Gowda also emphasised the importance of faith in constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission and the Supreme Court, noting that both bodies have issued directions wherever rectification was required. He criticised the opposition’s use of terms like “vote chori”, calling them derogatory and disrespectful to the office of the Prime Minister.

Earlier in the day, AIADMK MP Dr M. Thambidurai resumed his speech after the House reassembled. He expressed confidence in the Election Commission and stressed that clean and accurate electoral rolls are essential for strengthening democracy. He also referred to a Supreme Court directive on Standard Operating Procedures for campaigning in Tamil Nadu following an incident in Karur.

The debate on electoral reforms, including the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, continues amid sharp exchanges between the ruling NDA and opposition parties, reflecting the broader political tensions during the Winter Session.

Team Maverick.