'EC gaslighting citizens': Rahul Gandhi attacks poll panel over ink row; BJP hits back

IANS | January 16, 2026 12:09 PM

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, launched a pointed criticism of the Election Commission of India, accusing the ECI of undermining public confidence in democracy by 'facilitating' vote theft -- a claim that the Congress party has persistently made for some time in an effort to discredit the poll panel.

No issue with ink, same fake narrative created during LS polls: Shiv Sena

IANS | January 16, 2026 11:53 AM

Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) As Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray raised objections over the functioning of the State Election Commission, particularly regarding the use of removable ink, the Shiv Sena on Friday refuted the allegations, stating that there was no issue with the ink. The party said that a similar fake narrative was created during the Lok Sabha elections as well.