Mumbai, Aug. 9 -- Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday backed Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's recent allegations of large-scale "vote theft" during elections, asserting that the Election Commission is being "operated through the BJP office".

"We had been saying this for a long time now that vote theft has indeed happened across the country, and that EC is operated through the BJP office. What Rahul Gandhi has shown are not empty claims. He has unearthed 'vote theft'..." Thackeray told the media.

He urged the Election Commission to engage in an open debate with Gandhi instead of issuing rebuttals.

"I think instead of challenging, EC should debate with Rahul Gandhi...The information we...