The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, today presented what he described as a new body of evidence—termed the “H Files”—claiming widespread electoral fraud in the 2024 assembly election in Haryana.
At a press briefing held on November 5 2025 at his party’s headquarters in New Delhi, Gandhi alleged that approximately 25 lakh “duplicate, fake and bulk” voters were registered in the state, where the total voter base is estimated at roughly 2 crore.
He pointed out that this alleged number of invalid voters would account for about one in eight registrants (around 12.5 per cent) — significantly greater than the margin by which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory (approximately 22,000 votes). Gandhi displayed examples to support his claims, including a photograph purportedly used across 223 voter registrations and another example of one individual allegedly voting 22 times at 10 polling booths.
Addressing younger voters, he said: “I want Gen-Z to take this seriously, because your future is being taken away from you.” He linked the alleged manipulation to broader democratic and social implications — describing the phenomenon as a “theft of rights, reservation, employment, education, democracy.”
In response, officials at the Election Commission of India (EC) rejected the allegations, stating that no formal appeals have been lodged against the electoral rolls in Haryana. They questioned why Congress polling agents did not challenge the registrations during voting if the claims were valid. The EC also highlighted Gandhi’s previous stance against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, asking whether he now supports the mechanism that removes duplicate, dead or shifted electors.
This launch of the “H Files” marks the latest in a series of claims made by Gandhi since August pertaining to what he terms “vote chori” (vote theft). Earlier announcements flagged alleged mass additions of voters in Bengaluru and later, substantial deletions of electors. He had earlier promised a “hydrogen bomb” of proof, which he now appears to be releasing in phases.
The timing of the presentation is notable — coming just two days before voting begins in the Bihar election, where the opposition alliance (which includes the Congress party) is actively campaigning. Gandhi also joined the Tejashwi Yadav-led “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, which protested the SIR process in that state. Since then, the EC has initiated SIR in 12 additional states and Union Territories.
As this matter develops, observers will be watching whether Gandhi’s claims prompt formal investigations, and how the EC and state authorities respond to ensure electoral integrity and public confidence.
