The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday firmly rejected allegations made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who claimed that voter names were being systematically removed from electoral rolls ahead of elections. The ECI described these accusations as “incorrect” and “baseless”, particularly targeting Gandhi’s assertion that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was protecting “vote chors” (vote thieves).
In a statement posted on X, the ECI clarified that no voter deletions can be carried out online by members of the public, emphasising that the process ensures affected individuals are given an opportunity to be heard before any removal from the electoral roll. The poll body’s response was a direct rebuttal to Gandhi’s claims of widespread voter suppression orchestrated through digital means.
Nonetheless, the ECI admitted that there had been failed attempts to remove voters from the Aland Assembly constituency in Karnataka. In response, the Commission committed to resolving any irregularities by filing a First Information Report (FIR) to look into the matter.
During a press conference earlier that day, Rahul Gandhi alleged that an attempt had been made to delete 6,018 votes from the Aland constituency in Karnataka, using software and phone numbers originating from outside the state. Gandhi asserted that the voter deletions targeted Congress strongholds in particular, displaying mobile numbers allegedly used in the attempts. He claimed that the efforts were focused on polling places where the Congress party had a lead, implying a calculated tactic to hurt the party's chances of winning.
During the press conference, Gandhi introduced a woman named Godabai and said that attempts to remove 12 voters had been made using fictitious logins made in her name. “Godabai has no idea,” Rahul Gandhi said, highlighting her unawareness of the misuse of her identity in the alleged scheme.
Notably, according to Election Commission data, the Aland Assembly constituency was won by Congress candidate BR Patil with a margin exceeding 10,000 votes, adding context to Gandhi’s claims about targeting Congress-dominated areas.
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Gandhi further accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of colluding with those responsible for the alleged voter fraud, pointing out that the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had sent 18 letters to the ECI over the past 18 months. These letters sought information on the destination IP addresses of devices used to file voter deletion forms and the trails of one-time passwords (OTPs) associated with these actions. Gandhi claimed, “They are not giving it because this will lead us to where the operation is being done from. This is absolute solid proof that Gyanesh Kumar is protecting the people who are doing this.”
The ECI’s swift dismissal of Gandhi’s allegations underscores the growing tension between the Congress party and the poll body, as opposition parties intensify their scrutiny of the electoral process. Concerns concerning the integrity and transparency of voter rolls in the lead-up to elections have been raised by the controversy surrounding voter deletions, especially in light of ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercises in states like Delhi and Bihar.
While its public statement seeks to reassure voters that the deletion process is protected against unauthorised interference, the ECI's filing of a formal complaint in Karnataka indicates its intention to look into specific claims.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi slams Election Chief for protecting 'vote chors'
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