Argus News - Dharmendra Pradhan Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Fake Voter Allegation, Calls Him “Mentally Bankrupt”

Bhubaneswar, Nov 7: Union Education Minister and BJP’s in-charge for Bihar polls, Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of spreading misinformation and engaging in political theatrics during the Bihar election campaign.

The remarks came after Rahul Gandhi’s recent claim of voter fraud using a Brazilian model’s photo was debunked, drawing sharp criticism from both political opponents and the model herself.

Rahul Gandhi Becomes “Mentally Bankrupt”
Addressing the media, Pradhan called Rahul Gandhi a “merchant of falsehoods” and said he has become “mentally bankrupt.” He mocked Gandhi’s claim of dropping a “hydrogen bomb” of evidence, saying it had fizzled out embarrassingly. “Rahul Gandhi is running a startup of lies. He doesn’t even know what he’s saying anymore,” Pradhan remarked.

Brazilian Model Refutes Claim
The controversy erupted after Rahul Gandhi displayed a voter list image allegedly showing a Brazilian model, Larissa, as a voter in Haryana’s Murthal. Larissa responded publicly, calling the use of her decade-old photo “madness” and “laughable.” She clarified she has no connection to Indian elections and was shocked to see her image used in such a context.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Slams Rahul Gandhi, Calls Him ‘Research Centre of Lies’

Election Commission and Public Reaction
Rahul Gandhi had earlier claimed that the same name and photo appeared in multiple booths, suggesting voter fraud. However, investigations revealed that the individual named “Gunia” had passed away four years ago, and her name had not been removed from the voter list.

The Election Commission had given Gandhi a week to substantiate his claims under the SIR (Systematic Investigation Report) process, but he failed to respond.

Pradhan criticized Gandhi for repeatedly seeking time from the Election Commission but never appeared to present evidence. “This is not just irresponsible, it’s dangerous for democracy,” he said.

Political Fallout
The incident has triggered a political storm, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of resorting to false narratives. Pradhan urged voters to see through the “drama” and focus on real issues.