Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that elections in West Bengal and Assam were 'stolen' by the BJP with the backing of the Election Commission. Pradhan, responding on X, stated, 'Selective outrage is not an argument,' and accused Congress of questioning the electoral process only when results are unfavourable to it.

Gandhi had alleged Monday that over 100 seats were stolen in West Bengal and cited Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as part of a pattern of 'chunav chori' and 'sanstha chori.' He backed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims and asserted the EC supported BJP's victory.

Pradhan countered that the Election Commission has conducted fair elections across states and time, benefiting BJP, Congress, and regional parties. He said Congress treats the EC as credible when it wins, as in Kerala, but calls it compromised when it loses. This 'convenience-driven approach,' he added, undermines democratic principles.

The BJP leader emphasized that electoral mandates are decided by voters and not manufactured post-result, warning that repeated attempts to delegitimize outcomes erode Congress's own credibility. He said democracy requires acceptance of electoral verdicts regardless of political convenience.

The war of words comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, with both parties likely to escalate rhetoric on institutional integrity and electoral fairness.