Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday weighed in on the controversy surrounding the alleged fading of indelible ink used in the Maharashtra civic elections, accusing the Election Commission of undermining public trust using a Gen-Z term.Amid mounting complaints from voters and opposition parties that the finger-marking ink applied during Thursday’s elections was fading unusually quickly, Rahul described the situation as “gaslighting” by the Election Commission and termed “Vote Chori” as an anti-national act.Gandhi shared a media reportThe controversy erupted after several videos emerged on social media showing voters claiming that the ink stains on their fingers had faded within hours of voting, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the possibility of a re-vote.
What is gaslighting?
Rahul’s use of the term “gaslighting” – often associated with Generation Z and Millennial discourse – attracted attention online.“Gaslighting” is a form of manipulation in which people are made to doubt their own memories, perceptions, or understanding of reality. This often involves repeatedly denying clear facts, distorting information, or blaming others’ reactions, which ultimately leads them to question their own judgment.Victims are gradually made to question their actions, memories, understanding, and even sanity. It typically occurs in situations where there is an imbalance of power between the people involved. Gaslighting often begins with small, seemingly harmless lies, but can escalate over time, with the manipulator convincing the victim that they are misremembering events, that they lack sound judgment, or that they cannot be trusted to accurately assess situations.Examples:By invoking the term, Rahul seemed to suggest that voters’ concerns were being dismissed or downplayed despite visible evidence, further eroding trust in democratic institutions.The electoral commission has maintained that it will take corrective action based on the findings of the investigation, even as the opposition continues to push for accountability in the ink dispute.
