​I do not consider that the allegations of vote theft raised by Rahul Gandhi have any element of truth. I do not think Modi won the 2024 election through vote theft. Had that been the case, he would have secured a much more comfortable victory in Varanasi, and the overall 2024 electoral results would have been far more favorable to the NDA.
​However, these allegations have cast serious doubt on the genuineness of India’s electoral process. That is deeply unfortunate. We can never afford to let such doubt persist in the minds of even a fraction of society. There should never be an occasion for anyone to suspect or doubt the integrity of our democratic process. It must remain—like Caesar’s wife—above suspicion and beyond doubt.
​That level of trust can only be restored if we return to paper ballots. The Congress Party originally introduced Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and there is nothing inherently wrong with embracing technology. However, now that technology is central to the process, allegations have surfaced that it was manipulated to win an election. Irrespective of the merits of these claims, we cannot afford to have our electoral system questioned at all.
​Therefore, the Election Commission should return to ballot papers. Even if the process becomes time-consuming and expensive, the electoral process is sacrosanct. Such inconvenience and expenditure are well worth the credibility they restore.