Larissa Nery, a Brazilian hairdresser, has unexpectedly become the focal point of a political storm in India following allegations of election fraud. The controversy erupted after Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi held a press conference on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission (EC) of manipulating voter lists in last year’s Haryana state election. During the conference, Gandhi displayed a series of slides, including one featuring Nery’s photograph, claiming that her image had been used multiple times under different names on the voter list. Nery, who lives in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and has never visited India, initially thought the situation was a mistake or a prank. However, as her social media accounts were flooded with messages and journalists began contacting her, she realized the gravity of the situation. Nery confirmed to the BBC that the photograph was indeed hers, taken in 2017 by Brazilian photographer Matheus Ferrero. Ferrero, who shared the photo on Unsplash with Nery’s consent, expressed his shock at the misuse of the image and the sudden attention it garnered. Both Nery and Ferrero are now grappling with the unexpected intrusion into their lives, as the allegations continue to unfold in India. The BJP has denied the accusations, and the Election Commission has yet to respond to specific claims made by Gandhi. The incident has raised questions about the credibility of India’s electoral process and the implications of such allegations on the country’s political landscape.
‘I thought it was a prank’ – How a Brazilian woman became the face of India vote fraud row
