Congress MP Rahul Gandhi again held a high-voltage press conference, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of “vote chori” during the 2024 general elections. Gandhi targeted CEC Gaynesh Kumar, saying he was “brought to oversee vote chori” and the appointment was questionable. Mr Gandhi used “Hydrogen Bomb” as a metaphor to describe evidence.
Opposition leader and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed there are systematic, large-scale deletions of voter names from electoral rolls, especially in areas where Congress performs strongly. He claimed that over 6,000 voters’ names were deleted from the voter list in the Alanda Assembly Constituency of Karnataka in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly Polls. Gandhi alleged that fake logins, mobile numbers from other states, and some automated software tools were being used in the deletion process.
Gandhi said that what he showed so far is 100% bulletproof. He also said there is more coming, the so-called “hydrogen bomb” of revelations that will expose deeper or larger wrongdoing. He also gave examples in other states where deletions are being done.
The Election Commission has rejected the allegations, calling them baseless or incorrect. The EC said no deletion of voters can happen online by “any member of the public.” The process of deletion involves steps and an opportunity to be heard. Regarding the Aland case, EC admitted that “unsuccessful attempts” were made to delete electors in 2023, and that an FIR was filed by the EC itself.
Gandhi used a new PowerPoint than last time to lay out his claims, showing how fake logins, mobile numbers from different states, and software usage allow deletions. He noted that a booth-level officer noticed a deletion and then traced that deletion to some external deletion request. He also mentioned that the Karantaka CID has been sending letters to the EC asking for digital logs, IP addresses, OTP trails, etc., almost 18 letters in 18 months were sent, but the CID had not received satisfactory information yet.
BJP responded by mocking Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, calling the press conference he conducted a “Phuljari” and accusing him of “dropping H-bomb on himself” if the evidence turns out weak. This Vote Chori controversy raises serious questions of electoral integrity, voter trust, transparency of the election commission, and whether the complaint process is addressed.
BJP leader Anurag Thakur also accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to create instability in the nation, citing what happened in Bangladesh and Nepal. “While the ECI is functioning without bias, Rahul Gandhi is busy weakening democracy, misleading citizens,” he said. He also asked, “What has the CID of Congress ruled Karnataka done so far?”
EC wants proof of which Rahul Gandhi says he has, and is showing previews. The scale of deletions beyond the example of Aland is unclear. Gandhi claimed hundreds, possibly thousands, in other constituencies, but detailed numbers and evidence beyond that are not fully published.
The Controversy has now escalated into a political flashpoint, with demands for an independent investigation, even as the ECI insists its process remains transparent.
