Details of the Allegation:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Sonia Gandhi of being listed as a voter in India before she officially acquired Indian citizenship. Key points include:
Sonia Gandhi obtained Indian citizenship on April 30, 1983. However, her name allegedly appeared on the voter list for a Delhi constituency during the 1980 elections, when she was still an Italian citizen and did not hold Indian citizenship.
In 1982, following objections raised about her inclusion, her name was reportedly removed from the voter list. However, it reappeared in the voter list released in January 1983, despite her not yet having obtained Indian citizenship. The BJP claims that in both instances, Sonia Gandhi was an "illegal voter" due to her non-citizen status.
BJP’s Claims:
BJP’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur have accused the Congress party of facilitating Sonia Gandhi’s inclusion in the voter list before she became an Indian citizen. They argue this constitutes a violation of electoral regulations.
Congress’ Response:
Congress spokesperson Tariq Anwar refuted the allegations, stating that Sonia Gandhi never requested her name be added to the voter list. He attributed the error to the election authorities at the time, emphasizing that the Election Commission is an independent body responsible for its own decisions.
Citizenship Context:
Sonia Gandhi married Rajiv Gandhi in 1968 but did not acquire Indian citizenship for 15 years. She officially became an Indian citizen in 1983.
Political Context:
The BJP raised these allegations as a counter-response during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, accused the BJP of irregularities in voter lists, specifically citing ineligible voters in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura constituency. The BJP retaliated by highlighting the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s voter list inclusion.
Rephrased Version: BJP’s Allegations Against Sonia Gandhi on Voter List Irregularities
Accusation Overview:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that Sonia Gandhi’s name was unlawfully included in India’s voter list before she became an Indian citizen. Specifically:
Sonia Gandhi acquired Indian citizenship on April 30, 1983. However, her name was reportedly added to the Delhi voter list for the 1980 elections, when she was still an Italian citizen.
After objections in 1982 led to her name’s removal from the voter list, it reappeared in the January 1983 voter list, even though she had not yet obtained Indian citizenship. The BJP labels her an "illegal voter" in these instances due to her non-citizen status.
BJP’s Stance:
Prominent BJP leaders, including Amit Malviya (IT cell chief) and Anurag Thakur (former Union Minister), have accused the Congress party of orchestrating Sonia Gandhi’s inclusion in the voter list prior to her citizenship, alleging a breach of electoral laws.
Congress’ Defense:
Congress leader Tariq Anwar dismissed the claims, asserting that Sonia Gandhi did not seek inclusion in the voter list. He attributed the oversight to errors by election officials, noting that the Election Commission operates independently and is accountable for its actions.
Citizenship Background:
Sonia Gandhi, who married Rajiv Gandhi in 1968, remained a non-citizen for 15 years until she formally acquired Indian citizenship in 1983.
Political Backdrop:
These accusations surfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, following Congress’ allegations of voter list irregularities by the BJP, particularly in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura constituency, as raised by Rahul Gandhi. The BJP countered by spotlighting the alleged voter list discrepancies involving Sonia Gandhi.