New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday alleged that he is now “getting help” from individuals working within the Election Commission of India (ECI) in uncovering alleged voter fraud across the country.
Allegations of inside information
Speaking at a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Indira Bhawan, Gandhi claimed that certain officials within the poll body were providing him information. “We have started getting help from inside the Election Commission. This was not happening before, but now we are getting information from within. This is not going to stop,” he said, adding that young voters in particular would not tolerate “vote chori” (vote theft).
Charges against the Chief Election Commissioner
Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “protecting vote chors” and alleged that the ECI was aware of fraudulent practices in the addition and deletion of voters in the electoral rolls. He also claimed that marginalised communities, including Dalits, OBCs, Adivasis, and minorities—who largely vote for the Opposition—were being targeted for deletions.
Karnataka examples cited
The Congress leader cited the Aland Assembly constituency in Karnataka, where he alleged that 6,018 votes were deleted fraudulently. According to him, the matter came to light when a Booth Level Officer noticed that her uncle’s name had been removed from the rolls. Gandhi also referred to earlier allegations of voter fraud in the Mahadevapura constituency, where he claimed that thousands of votes were manipulated during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“In Aland, Karnataka, somebody used software and impersonated real voters to delete names. We don’t know the total number of votes deleted in 2023, but this case was caught by coincidence,” Gandhi said.
Wider claims of systemic manipulation
Gandhi reiterated that voter fraud was not limited to Karnataka. He alleged that fraudulent deletions and additions had occurred in Maharashtra and other states as well, and that this was part of a “systematic targeting” process in election after election.
“I am not saying anything that is not backed by 100 per cent proof. I love my country, Constitution and democratic process, and I am committed to protecting it,” he said.
Response from the Election Commission
Following Gandhi’s press conference, the Election Commission of India held its own briefing, rejecting the allegations. The poll body asked Gandhi to submit evidence in the form of an affidavit to substantiate his claims. Officials also addressed questions on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, where similar complaints have been raised.
Opposition’s stance
Opposition parties, led by the Congress, have consistently accused the Election Commission of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate voter rolls. They claim that fraudulent deletions and additions have taken place in multiple states, undermining the democratic process.
Conclusion
With both sides standing firm, the issue is likely to escalate further. Gandhi has promised to release more “explosive proof” in the coming weeks, while the Election Commission maintains that it will act only on verifiable evidence. The controversy has added fresh tension to India’s political discourse as the country heads into a cycle of crucial elections.