Jagan claimed this backchannel explains Rahul Gandhi’s silence on what he described as India’s “largest electoral fraud” during the 2024 general elections.
Published Aug 13, 2025 | 10:40 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 13, 2025 | 10:40 PM
Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy
Synopsis: YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of maintaining silence on what he described as India’s “largest electoral fraud” in Andhra Pradesh, alleging a 12.5 per cent gap between votes polled and votes counted in the 2024 general elections.
Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of ignoring what he termed the major vote discrepancy in Andhra Pradesh and the defeat of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the recent assembly elections, despite raising allegations of ‘vote theft’ in Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana.
Speaking to reporters at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli on Wednesday, 12 August, Jagan alleged that the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha was maintaining a “hotline” with Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu through Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy.
Jagan claimed this backchannel explains Rahul Gandhi’s silence on what he described as India’s “largest electoral fraud” during the 2024 general elections – a 12.5 percent gap between votes polled and votes counted in Andhra Pradesh.
“Rahul Gandhi talks about vote chori (vote theft) everywhere, but not in Andhra Pradesh. Why? Because he is in hotline contact with Chandrababu through Revanth Reddy,” Jagan said.
Jagan’s remarks came against the backdrop of the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) by-elections in Pulivendula and Vontimitta, held a day earlier in his home district of YSR Kadapa.
He described the polls as a “mockery of democracy”, accusing the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government of rigging, voter intimidation and misuse of the police.
According to him, YSRCP polling agents were not allowed inside booths and their authorisation papers were torn up, while outsiders from TDP strongholds such as Jammalamadugu were permitted to vote freely.
He alleged that in 15 booths with about 10,600 votes, 700 police personnel were deployed to scare voters and to act as TDP agents.
Jagan further claimed that police arrested YSRCP MP YS Avinash Reddy and placed several other party leaders under house arrest. He said the entire election process had been reduced to a farce.
He added that YSRCP candidates would move court seeking cancellation of the bypoll results and demand fresh elections under central security forces.
The former chief minister also targeted Congress’s Andhra Pradesh in-charge Manickam Tagore, accusing him of going after the YSRCP while ignoring alleged corruption by the TDP.
“There are belt shops all over, liquor is being sold over MRP and mining scams are flourishing, but he would not talk about them. Why target the YSRCP only? Is it because of the invisible hotline between Rahul and Naidu through Revanth Reddy?” Jagan asked.
This is not the first time Jagan has accused the TDP of manipulating election results. Since the YSRCP’s heavy defeat in 2024, he has repeatedly claimed that nearly 48 lakh votes, amounting to 12.5 percent of the total, were tampered with.
Reacting to Jagan’s comments, Manickam Tagore defended Rahul Gandhi.
“Jagan has no right to criticise Rahul Gandhi. Rahul is fighting to protect democracy and leading a major battle against vote theft,” he said.
In Telangana, Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy also condemned Jagan’s remarks against Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy, questioning the YSRCP chief’s credibility after his party’s electoral defeat.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
