Allegations of Vote Chori raise demands for independent investigation

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, addressing the media on September 19, 2025, reiterated his allegation of large-scale “vote theft” in India. He criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) was not fulfilling its constitutional duty. Gandhi cited instances from Karnataka and Maharashtra, claiming that voter names were deleted or added fraudulently.

According to Gandhi, in the Aland assembly constituency of Kalburgi district, around 6,000 names were allegedly removed from the voters’ list ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. He said the deletions disproportionately affected Congress strongholds. Following complaints, the Election Commission reviewed the matter, restored several names, and an FIR was filed by the Electoral Registration Officer. The Karnataka CID later investigated the case, reporting that fake names had been used to file deletion requests. The CID sought technical details from the Election Commission, including IP addresses, OTP trails, and mobile numbers linked to the objections.

Gandhi alleged that similar practices had occurred in Maharashtra’s Rajura constituency, where over 6,800 names were added in what he described as a fraudulent manner. He claimed such incidents had also taken place in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. In a post on X, Gandhi said the alleged process of voter deletion was systematic and technology-driven.

This was Gandhi’s third press conference on the issue in two months. On August 7, 2025, he first alleged that a coordinated “vote theft” operation was underway, which he attributed to a wider network influencing elections nationwide. He described two primary methods of malpractice: the addition of fictitious names and the deletion of legitimate voters.

The Election Commission has rejected Gandhi’s allegations as “incorrect and baseless.” It stated that no individual can delete names online, as suggested, and emphasized its independent role in maintaining electoral rolls. The Commission asked Gandhi to submit an affidavit substantiating his claims or issue a public apology.

Gandhi, however, has maintained that the EC should cooperate with the Karnataka CID investigation and provide the requested data. He argued that transparency is necessary to ensure public confidence in the electoral process.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between the Opposition and the Election Commission regarding the integrity of electoral rolls. While Gandhi has called for an independent investigation, the EC has denied wrongdoing. The matter remains under scrutiny, with further developments likely depending on the Karnataka CID probe.

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*Journalist based in Chennai

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