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.

---

*Journalist based in Chennai

Comments

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

'Fraudulent': Ex-civil servants urge President to halt Odisha tribal land dispossession

By A Representative A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights.

Dhandhuka violence: Gujarat minority group seeks judicial action, cites targeted arson

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has written to the Director General of Police seeking judicial action in connection with recent violence in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district, alleging targeted attacks on properties belonging to members of the Muslim community following a fatal altercation between two bike riders on April 18.

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Counterview

Search This Blog