Rahul Gandhi vs Election Commission: Fresh Clash Over Voter List Deletions After 2024 Lok Sabha Defeat
After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched sharp attacks on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of deliberately deleting Congress voters’ names from electoral rolls using “software manipulation.”
Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi took to the streets raising concerns over voter list scrutiny. The issue reached the Supreme Court, which clearly stated that it cannot stop the Election Commission from conducting detailed verification of voter lists. However, it added that if any wrongdoing is found, it may order fresh investigations.
The Election Commission has now ordered comprehensive scrutiny of voter lists nationwide. According to the EC, most states last carried out such scrutiny between 2002 and 2004. The commission believes that around 50% of voters will face no issues, as their names are already on record, while others will need to submit declarations or affidavits.
At a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Rahul Gandhi alleged that names of Congress supporters are being deliberately removed from voter lists using software manipulation. Citing figures from Karnataka’s Aland Assembly constituency in Kalaburagi district, he claimed that this was part of a planned conspiracy. Gandhi said:
6,018 applications were filed to remove names from Aland’s voter list.
In one case, 12 names were deleted under the name of one woman, Godabai.
He questioned, “Whose numbers were used to remove these 12 names?”
Rahul Gandhi further said that Karnataka CID, which is investigating the matter, had sent 18 letters seeking information but had not received responses. He demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar provide the requested information within seven days, warning that failure to do so would prove that the EC is complicit in “killing the Constitution” and protecting “vote thieves.”
Election Commission Rejects Allegations
The EC countered Rahul Gandhi’s charges, saying it had already provided all necessary information to the Karnataka CID two years ago, including names of applicants, mobile numbers, reference numbers, EPIC numbers, IP addresses, login details, and timestamps. The EC also pointed out that it itself had filed an FIR with the police on February 21, 2023, regarding irregularities.
The EC stressed that no one can delete or add names online directly. Such powers rest only with the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), usually a sub-divisional magistrate, who conducts verification, issues notices, and then takes a decision. Thus, Rahul Gandhi’s allegations were incorrect. The EC also highlighted that the Aland seat was won by BJP in 2018 but by Congress in 2023, questioning who benefited from alleged deletions.
BJP’s Counterattack
BJP MP Anurag Thakur hit back, saying Rahul Gandhi had promised to explode a “hydrogen bomb” but ended up with mere “sparklers.” He accused Rahul of lying and misleading people, claiming Congress under his leadership has lost 90 elections, showing his growing frustration. Thakur alleged that Rahul specializes in hit-and-run politics—making baseless charges, refusing affidavits, avoiding accountability, and getting reprimanded by courts.
Critics argue that Rahul Gandhi is using attacks on constitutional institutions as a shield to protect himself and his family, who already face multiple investigations and cases. Observers say he may later frame any legal action against him or the Gandhi family as “political revenge” by the Modi government.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is positioning his “fight against voter fraud” as a battle to save Indian democracy and is urging the nation’s youth and Gen-Z voters to resist what he calls “vote theft.”